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
The beat is knowingly Hoover-esque, gesturing toward familiar dramatic territory between lovers — before violently swerving in a more genre-forward direction.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Apr. 2026
Aerial footage of the pursuit showed the driver in a gray SUV swerving through lanes on the northbound 101 Freeway, using the shoulder lanes to get around other vehicles and traveling at a high rate of speed.
—Cbs La Staff, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
While driving the five miles home, she was recorded tailgating other vehicles, swerving off the road and crossing over into the on-coming lane, according to the Daily Mail.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
Meghan took to social media Thursday, April 2, to share a video of her husband and their son Prince Archie, 6, swerving down the slopes.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Police said Woods at the time was attempting to a pass a pressure cleaner truck, eventually swerving in a bid to avoid a collision.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Authorities said the group’s behavior leading up to the incident was dangerous and escalating, with riders swerving through traffic, approaching moving vehicles and pedestrians, and in some cases intentionally riding at oncoming cars.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Those ubiquitous ride companies have reduced the scourge of drunk drivers swerving on our roads and taking the lives of others.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Apr. 2026
Aerial footage of the pursuit showed the driver in a gray SUV swerving through lanes on the northbound 101 Freeway, using the shoulder lanes to get around other vehicles and traveling at a high rate of speed.
—Cbs La Staff, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
While driving the five miles home, she was recorded tailgating other vehicles, swerving off the road and crossing over into the on-coming lane, according to the Daily Mail.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
Meghan took to social media Thursday, April 2, to share a video of her husband and their son Prince Archie, 6, swerving down the slopes.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Police said Woods at the time was attempting to a pass a pressure cleaner truck, eventually swerving in a bid to avoid a collision.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Authorities said the group’s behavior leading up to the incident was dangerous and escalating, with riders swerving through traffic, approaching moving vehicles and pedestrians, and in some cases intentionally riding at oncoming cars.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Those ubiquitous ride companies have reduced the scourge of drunk drivers swerving on our roads and taking the lives of others.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerving
Verb
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Subtle without veering saccharine, sage green lends ease to tailored staples—blazers, trousers, crisp shirting—while adding refinement to warmer-weather pieces like shorts and slip dresses.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
25 Apr. 2026
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Hungary, a major net recipient of EU funds, had come under increasing criticism for veering away from democratic norms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There's no question about the iconic status of Tegallalang, the flawless and highly photogenic rice terraces curving around hillsides and irrigated by the subak system, which has UNESCO status.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
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All communal areas can be reached by curving but steep paths.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Other footage from outside the restaurant shows the man bending the standup heaters and throwing more chairs.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The royal made a beeline to the young boys, immediately bending down to their eye level and shaking their hands.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Apple has started deviating from this as of late, with the introduction of the eye-catching Cosmic Orange skin in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max last year.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
19 Apr. 2026
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In Wacksman’s view, most people would benefit more from taking unexpected jobs or out-of-wheelhouse projects, rather than tying themselves to a strict, linear career path and never deviating.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With gracefully arching foliage, this evergreen fern is a staple of Southern porches.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
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The plant is a clump-forming fern with arching stems.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Wednesday’s game, in particular, ended in extremely bizarre fashion with Xavier Edwards turning an unusual unassisted double play with the bases loaded and Freddie Freeman at the plate.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Gravity-defying hairstyles The eye-catching work of Elisabeth Anayes Niouky is turning heads and inspiring African women to embrace their natural hair.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By hooking a solo shot around the Pesky Pole, the lefty swinger finally hit his first dinger of the year off Boston southpaw Payton Tolle.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Already, there’s been an uptick in shark sightings and encounters, with the beach closed recently in Newport Beach and a fisherman hooking and releasing a great white off Manhattan Beach Pier.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swerving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerving. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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