DEPART Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

depart

verb

di-ˈpärt

Definition of depart

as in to exit

to leave a place often for another I'll sing one more song before I depart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to die

to stop living a special tribute for those members of the motion picture academy who have departed over the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The mission will then shift its focus to Deimos for a series of flybys before departing for Earth in November 2030. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Leadership at the university turned over last year, with the president, the dean of students and the director of Greek life all departing. — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Before departing, the pope stopped to speak to a Ukrainian family. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 Manganiello made some harsh claims about Vergara's departing words to him. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depart

Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart

Verb

Understanding the financial consequences to both the business and the other marital assets—such as exiting a legal agreement or selling property—is time well spent before the terms of a divorce are accepted.

— Catherine Shanahan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
After the couple exited the hotel and were detained, officers executed a search warrant on their hotel room, recovering a firearm and supporting evidence consistent with the crime scene, police said.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of exit

Verb

Components can move from machining to assembly on the same day or the following day, enabling teams to test design changes on physical hardware sooner.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
However, the higher PPI is pointing to an economy that is gradually moving away from deflationary pressures even if the recovery remains uneven, said Hao Zhou, chief economist at Guotai Junan International Holdings.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of move

Verb

In some ski communities, such as Winter Park, entire mountainsides of trees perished, dramatically altering the landscape.

— Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Thanks to their efforts, only one car, two Vespas and a motorcycle perished in this flood, Navarrete said.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of perish

Verb

Jayaprakash told Fortune that most of the new money will go toward purchasing more computing power.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Bauers and his wife, Lauren Bauers, sat down with ABC News’ Will Reeve to discuss his journey, going from nearly walking away from professional baseball in 2024 to being named the National League Championship Series MVP last week.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of go

Verb

But the opening period didn’t end without a scary moment, as Antetokounmpo fell hard on his back side after being fouled on a dunk attempt late in the first quarter.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Shares of Oracle fell about 9% amid a broader downturn for stocks of top AI stakeholders.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall

Verb

White said Salvation Brands is not to be confused with the big brand management firms such as Authentic Brands Group and WHP Global, which are getting all the attention these days.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Waddhwa moved to strike a film development deal around the incident after getting unsolicited inquiries from Indian media firms.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of get

Verb

As more and more people succumb to AI psychosis, horror movies are (as always) the first to dive into the repercussions.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
The pair had a fractured, even abusive, relationship, depicted in a series of flashbacks, until Mitt chose to end his life in the sea rather than succumb to a terminal case of cancer.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of succumb

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deodorizing

depart

departed

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“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of depart

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