Definition of departnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb depart contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of depart are deviate, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Where would deviate be a reasonable alternative to depart?

The synonyms deviate and depart are sometimes interchangeable, but deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace depart?

While the synonyms digress and depart are close in meaning, digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

How do diverge and depart relate to one another?

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 is it sensible to use swerve instead of depart?

The meanings of swerve and depart largely overlap; however, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When can veer be used instead of depart?

The words veer and depart are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 depart Then in November, Lucas Museum chief curator Pilar Tompkins Rivas also departed the institution. Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026 Indonesia, Qatar, Ecuador and Angola have all departed the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in recent years. Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026 Chancellor remained at Today for a little over a year, but officially departed in September 1962. Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026 Or, enjoy a water excursion with Cruisin’ Tikis, departing from the marina across from the hotel. Judith Garrison, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • But earlier this week, the American star exited the Madrid Open well before the final, falling short in her bid for another tournament victory.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • According to investigators, a family member was repositioning a vehicle closer to the house because of incoming weather when the child exited the home unnoticed and moved into a blind spot near the vehicle.
    Doug Myers, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In 2019, Elisa Serna died at the Las Colinas women’s jail after a doctor and nurse left her alone after watching her collapse.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • That’s the year the Boston Marathon suffered a terrorist attack in which three people died and hundreds more were injured.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • He was instructed to respond by moving his eyes from left to right, and sure enough, the researchers counted two rightward movements of his eyes.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • Mercury moves through your 1st House of Identity, sharpening your voice and making your words more direct than usual.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Two people who perished in a fatal Bronx blaze didn’t stand a chance after their neighbors left a door open that allowed the fire to quickly spread, officials said Friday.
    Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • More than two dozen sloths perished in a warehouse around two minutes from the Sloth World Orlando location between December 2024 and February 2025, the FWC said, as Fox35 reported.
    Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, the 2026 draft saw a running back go third, a middle linebacker go seventh, and nine offensive linemen gone by the end of the first round.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • There’s a lot that goes (on) behind the scene as a manager.
    Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His portfolio fell 44% in the dot-com crash, and sustained a 40% loss in 2008.
    Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Lee then came up to the plate and fell behind in the count 1-2.
    Tony Gleason, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • At the lone practice open to the media, Watson led the quarterback rotation in most drills, but Monken said the plan called for Sanders to get more reps overall.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026
  • There’s plenty of room to step back and get some perspective.
    Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The odds were always bad, and the Dallas Stars succumbed not to math but the better team.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
  • Rangel succumbed to his injuries two days later, on December 6.
    Peter D'Abrosca , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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