as in to veer
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the crowd roared as the clown on the bicycle zagged while the other clowns, in hot pursuit, zigged
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of zag
There were lessons to be learned, and companies that were nimble had the ability to zig and zag as needed.
—
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 Dec. 2025
The Broncos defender squared himself for the tackle, only for Washington to zag left at the last second.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Better yet, airlines and hotels often offer deals to fill seats and rooms in places that aren’t oversubscribed, meaning your willingness to zig when others zag can pay off in both savings and a more relaxed trip.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 29 Sep. 2025
When everyone else zigs, you zag.
—Talbott Roche, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zag
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 Dec. 2025
The Broncos defender squared himself for the tackle, only for Washington to zag left at the last second.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Better yet, airlines and hotels often offer deals to fill seats and rooms in places that aren’t oversubscribed, meaning your willingness to zig when others zag can pay off in both savings and a more relaxed trip.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 29 Sep. 2025
When everyone else zigs, you zag.
—Talbott Roche, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zag
Verb
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But topics also veer off to the mundane.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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Colorado’s Republican Party has veered dangerously to the right, and its lawsuit aims to protect that maneuver by flexing its power over our elections.—
Kent Thiry,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rather than opting for the usual green or red, the monarch chose a deep teal coat with a zig-zag detail along the button placket.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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Quantity makes the conflicts zig and zag.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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All communal areas can be reached by curving but steep paths.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Depending on the positioning of this wing, the robot can glide forward or curve back toward its starting point.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the Broncos cut Greenlaw, the 49ers wasted no time in bringing him back to pair with middle linebacker Fred Warner in hopes of reviving one of the NFL’s top linebacker tandems.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Jacksonville general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen cut their teeth as part of the Rams organization, learning from GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zag. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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