CAREENS Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words

careens

verb

present tense third-person singular of careen

as in lurches

to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the sled careened as it barreled down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in staggers

to move forward while swaying from side to side he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in scurries

to proceed or move quickly sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of careens In the clip, filmed at her 36th birthday party, Madix careens through a bar and lands directly onto her left cheek without attempting to break her fall; her hand is busy holding up her cocktail, which stays miraculously intact. — Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026 Hal recklessly careens between personal ambition and marital loyalty. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen careens across the gravel after the rear of his car locks up during Qualifying for the first race of the season. — Brad Spurgeon, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026 With Good shot, the car then careens to the side of the road, crashing into a parked car. — Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2026 Delta Aurigid meteors appear each year as Earth careens through a debris trail left by an unknown comet. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025 As their season careens to a close this week, with a 70-87 record going into Wednesday night, a last-place finish assured and the only record within reach being that for strikeouts in a season by the offense, contention seems as far away as it’s ever been. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025 The up-and-comer goes all in as the film careens toward its gleefully gory finale, proving her scream queen bona fides with a commanding, vanity-free performance. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025 Their car careens off the road, hits a rock and dumps them into a river. — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for careens

Verb

The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026
By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026

Definition of lurches

Verb

Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.

— Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

Definition of staggers

Verb

Inside Botánica Santo Tomas in Wilton Manors, store owner Héctor Giovanni Pizarro Santana sweeps the floor as his tiny Chihuahua, Bella, scurries behind him.

— Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, Alicent scurries the great halls, desperate to shore up support for her plan to hand Rhaenyra the Red Keep.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Definition of scurries

Verb

One combat sequence at the end is genuinely excellent because the film puts actual creative effort into staging a knife-versus-ax duel on a gangplank that sways back and forth over the water.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
The main road home is closed, so players must detour through a wild valley full of hills, rivers and angry wildlife, while the janky physics turn every bump into potential disaster as the RV sways, tips and flips with ease.

— Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026

Definition of sways

Verb

The documentary around that single day and single game also weaves into the account of Curry’s on-court artistry the thoughts of other innovative artists like Viola Davis, Rick Rubin, Patti Smith, and Jon Batiste.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
The boyfriend, a British DJ named James Kennedy, who had been playing a clunky set in the background, weaves over to the women, sweaty and frazzled.

— Sylvia Varnham O’Regan, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaves

Verb

If someone hurries you, slow the exchange and name what feels good in your body, like sitting down before deciding on plans.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Nix almost always hurries his throws when a blitz comes Harvey’s way, regardless of whether the rookie RB picks it up capably or not.

— Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025

Definition of hurries

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careening

careens

career

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“Careens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careens. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of careens

verb

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