SWERVE Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'swerve' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swerve are depart , deviate , digress , diverge , and veer . While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness. // swerved to avoid hitting the dog

Q: Where would 'depart' be a reasonable alternative to 'swerve'?

While in some cases nearly identical to swerve , depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type. // occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Q: When might 'deviate' be a better fit than 'swerve'?

Although the words deviate and swerve have much in common, deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course. // never deviated from her daily routine

Q: When could 'digress' be used to replace 'swerve'?

The words digress and swerve can be used in similar contexts, but digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse. // a professor prone to digress

Q: How are the words 'diverge' and 'depart' related as synonyms of 'swerve'?

Diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions. // after school their paths diverged

Q: When would 'veer' be a good substitute for 'swerve'?

In some situations, the words veer and swerve are roughly equivalent. However, veer implies a major change in direction. // at that point the path veers to the right

swerve

verb

ˈswərv

Definition of swerve

as in to veer

to depart abruptly from a straight line or course the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straighten

as in to curve

to turn away from a straight line or course the bike path gently swerves to the right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straighten

as in to bend

to cause to turn away from a straight line a dog dashed out in front of me and made me swerve my bike to one side of the bike path

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deviate

to change one's course or direction the hurricane had been following the coastline before it swerved and headed inland

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swerve contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swerve are depart, deviate, digress, diverge, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

Where would depart be a reasonable alternative to swerve?

While in some cases nearly identical to swerve, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When might deviate be a better fit than swerve?

Although the words deviate and swerve have much in common, deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace swerve?

The words digress and swerve can be used in similar contexts, but digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

How are the words diverge and depart related as synonyms of swerve?

Diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

after school their paths diverged

When would veer be a good substitute for swerve?

In some situations, the words veer and swerve are roughly equivalent. However, veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

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 swerve Li and Scobey allegedly swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with an oncoming vehicle while driving down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, according to the civil complaint reviewed by EW. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026 As the caravan headed down 61st Street, the agent driving the CBP vehicle attempted to evade them by swerving into oncoming lanes of traffic, with Alvarez following closely behind, the plea agreement stated. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026 The 2008 Accord swerved to the left, then lost control and collided with the other Accord before rolling over, the crash log states. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026 State police said the trooper swerved partially into the median to avoid a crash and lost control of the Ford Interceptor. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swerve

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerve

Verb

Founded in 1994 by French editorial makeup artist and photographer François Nars, the brand arrived at a time when complexion was matte, blush was softly diffused, lips veered vampy or neutral, and eyes were super smokey.

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
The riders veered off the road and through an opening in the fencing surrounding a parking lot near BMO Stadium.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of veer

Verb

But plenty of long-range computer models continue to show a future for the system, most as a tropical storm headed west toward the Caribbean, although plenty also show a potential track that curves north of Puerto Rico.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Several other curved, slender bones were soon found nearby, according to pictures shared with the station.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of curve

Verb

This outer layer absorbs physical stress directly, protecting the delicate internal materials from bending or cracking under load.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Booze, black pepper, and leather accords give the note a sultry, noir bend, while white musks and soft florals transform vanilla into something comforting and cocooning.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of bend

Verb

The litigants claim the companies intentionally designed their platforms to keep young users hooked.

— Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
The states argued that the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to hook children into using its apps, misled the public about the harm and improperly collected data from children under 13.

— Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hook

Verb

After successful demonstration in ground and airborne trials, the company turned its attention to a GravNav, a system that senses changes in gravity fields.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
There’s no better time to start turning your closet over for the season ahead.

— Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of turn

Verb

In the opposite direction, open the elbows wide, arching the back and lifting the chin to the sky.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Engineers maintained extremely gentle gradients across long distances while using tunnels, channels, and arched bridges to cross uneven terrain.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of arch

Verb

Instead, the chief executive said Hilton's middle- and upper-middle segments have swung from posting negative numbers to growing at rates as high as 6%.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
The Slingshot surges forward as the tach swings toward redline, the exhaust emitting a guttural howl.

— William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of swing

Browse Nearby Words

swept (away)

swerve

swerved

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Style

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

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Synonyms of swerve

verb

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