as in abnormal
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
the mother's deviate response to her child's death aroused suspicions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
a sleazy bar that seemed to be an informal clubhouse for deviates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deviate
Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025
Aggravating circumstances: Rape/criminal deviate conduct, on probation or parole, mutilation/torture.
—Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2014
Dallas News, 14 July 2022
Helmet Technology is Improving For decades, helmet design didn’t deviate from this basic blueprint.
—Rena Kingery, Discover Magazine, 16 June 2022
David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
The designation qualifies the site for a special use permit that would allow the plans to deviate from the land-use and density requirements of the La Jolla Planned District Ordinance, subject to further review by the San Diego Historical Resources Board.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deviate
Adjective
Her pitch was simple: Homosexuality is a sin, and if homosexuals were given carte blanche to glamorize their ‘deviate lifestyle’ in Miami-area classrooms, the American family would be destroyed and the American way of life would disappear.
—Noun
But despite the stress on the program, Campbell didn’t deviate from his core values — choosing redshirt sophomore quarterback Hunter Dekkers over anyone from the portal.
—Verb
But common symptoms include visual hallucinations and thought delusions, in which those with schizophrenia see or hear things that deviate from reality.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviate
Adjective
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The new guidance reflects the latest research showing that HPV tests, compared to Pap smears, can increase the detection of abnormal cells in the cervix that may lead to cancer.—
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Kickers often have an abnormal route to high-level football.—
Noun
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Also, what many now interpret as Kubrick’s exposé of elite perverts was, in fact, mostly Schnitzler’s doing.—
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Tarpley Hitt: Postwar miscreants, several perverts (value-neutral), corporate consolidation, lawsuits, copyright law, knockoffs/fakes, America, lying, dolls.—
Verb
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Researchers in Germany are set to turn green waste, hay and algae into fully biodegradable plastics.—
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Together, these trends have turned industrial space into a cornerstone of national logistics and digital capacity.—
Adjective
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While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.—
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The handsome pair of actors play sniper specialists from enemy countries who must each take a long shift on opposite sides of a massive trench where some unnatural monsters apparently lurk below.—
Noun
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What should be a gripping thriller centered on new, uncharted technology and questionable loyalties degenerates into a jumbled mess.—
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If this group of hardened degenerates was able to enjoy the action at this level, who, exactly, are the spiritual victims of sports betting?—
Verb
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At the end of Monday's live Atlas demonstration, the humanoid prototype swung its arms in a theatrical gesture to introduce a static model of the new product version of Atlas, which looked slightly different and was blue in color.—
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The Chiefs’ special teams also never swung the field with a return for a touchdown.—
Noun
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The city's leaf rake-out deadline this year fell during a Thanksgiving weekend storm that dropped up to eight inches of snow in Milwaukee.—
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Slide long, narrow tools, such as shovels, rakes, or outdoor items like tiki torches, under the cables to keep them organized and out of the way.—
Verb
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As time passed, Webster found his views diverging from some of his neighbors’ in the Hudson Valley.—
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As some of those threats receded, Saudi and Emirati priorities began to diverge, bringing competing agendas to the fore.—
Cite this Entry
“Deviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviate. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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