1
as in veering
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
2
as in curving
to turn away from a straight line or course
the bike path gently swerves to the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bending
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
4
as in deviating
to change one's course or direction
the hurricane had been following the coastline before it swerved and headed inland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swerving
According to the law, exhibition driving is described as operating a vehicle close to a crowd and intentionally skidding, swerving while accelerating or causing the wheels to lose contact with the ground, among other actions.
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Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
According to DiMartino, initial investigations indicate that the motorcyclist lost control of his bike while trying to navigate a curve in the road, swerving off the street and into a fatal collision with a light pole.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 Dec. 2025
There was reportedly no horseplay or swerving during the ride, according to 9News.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Photograph by Larry Salzman / AP Nelson kept swerving.
—Alex Abramovich, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
In 2023, she was hospitalized after crashing her bike while swerving to avoid a truck, and she had also been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 19 Dec. 2025
Straight-line rockets, swerving bends, dipping volleys.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
In many ways, returning to speculative storytelling has felt like a homecoming to Gilligan, even as swerving away from crime presents a chance to expand his legacy.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Buses are larger, less capable of swerving, and take longer to brake, but bus drivers are also far more likely to drive cautiously and avoid speeding, said Toronto.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerving
Verb
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In Dakota County, a farmer took away a section of trail on his property because riders were veering off it.—
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But Democratic lawmakers warned that in veering from the rule of law, the administration is potentially greenlighting other countries, such as China or Russia, to do the same.—
Verb
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At first glance, the choker reprises the incisions and delicately curving edges meant to evoke Chanel’s distinctive quilting, with a sliding clasp closure to adjust it closely to the neck.—
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Later came scores on a free kick and curving corner kick to help account for a 4-0 halftime lead.—
Verb
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The announcement could be the first sign that the new government is open to returning some freedom of expression to the country, and bending to pressure from opposition groups and the American government.—
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Pull your breastbone toward the bar by bending your elbows.—
Verb
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And while that's true, the show is also its own beast, deviating greatly from King's story by weaving in military intrigue, spycraft, and Native American mythology.—
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Reagan championed free trade while selectively deviating from it, according to the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.—
Verb
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Keep your core tight and avoid arching your back.—
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Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.—
Verb
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Weekly mopping might help to prevent food, dirt, and debris from turning into mold, which could damage your grout.—
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But the momentum in the NFL’s longest-running rivalry seems to be turning, with the Bears beating the Packers for the third time in the past five games.—
Verb
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Also mentioned is an auto-hitch system to simplify hooking it up to the tow vehicle.—
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The great Amazon in its north drains large areas as does the Parana-River Plate watershed to its south that reaches the Atlantic in the estuary between Argentina and Uruguay, The San Francisco flows north for hundreds of miles before hooking a right and dropping to the Atlantic.—
Cite this Entry
“Swerving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerving. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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