DETOUR Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

detour 1 of 2

noun

ˈdē-ˌtu̇r

Definition of detour

as in deviation

a turning away from a course or standard we'll regard this relapse as just a brief detour on your road to recovery from substance abuse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

adherence

detour

2 of 2

verb

as in to bypass

to avoid by going around we had to detour the construction zone in order to get to the stadium

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deviate

to change one's course or direction we had to detour for a few miles around the section of highway under construction

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 detour

Noun

Beyoncé Less pleading and more of a warning, Beyoncé’s version was a far detour from how Dolly sang the original version, which Dolly respected. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 For a detour, drivers traveling west should exit at the Northwest 12th Avenue ramp and turn left, then turn right on Northwest Seventh Street. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

Sanguinetti’s tender film detours through the motions of time and eventually brings fleshiness to her presence. — Manahil Tahira, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026 More to Explore From Grand Marais, adventurous travelers can detour inland along the 57-mile Gunflint Trail, a scenic byway leading toward the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour

Noun

Our extended winter weather forecasts emphasize temperature and precipitation deviations from averages, or normals.

— Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Procedures were defined, deviations were documented and outcomes could be traced back to how the work had been done.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of deviation

Verb

While not a common path for elite Japanese amateurs, bypassing the NPB draft would not be unprecedented.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Recent incidents, like OpenAI's models bypassing controls and Anthropic's models accessing real systems, underscore this threat.

— Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of bypass

Verb

As if to signal this iteration hasn’t completely deviated from its roots, in the show’s opening moments, Deborah Wayne coolly flicks the iconic flip-up frames made famous by Hardison’s Dwayne.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Congressional approval should be required for significant discretionary expenditures or those that deviate from congressional appropriations.

— Debra Houry, STAT, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of deviate

Noun

The View From Beijing In a departure from business strategies of the past, this current cohort of Chinese companies has a mandate to expand internationally, according to academic Karim Alwadi, based in Beijing.

— Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Target your flight search to departure airports that regularly offer the greatest number of points and miles deals.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of departure

Verb

For a while, Michael believed that Leah would somehow try to circumvent the school’s vaccine requirements.

— Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
The naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz remains in place, secondary sanctions are being tightened, and pressure is being increased on countries and financial networks that have allowed Tehran to circumvent previous restrictions.

— Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of circumvent

Verb

City officials asked people to avoid the downtown area where police are investigating the shooting.

— Michael Loria, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of avoid

Verb

Instead, the chief executive said Hilton's middle- and upper-middle segments have swung from posting negative numbers to growing at rates as high as 6%.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
The Slingshot surges forward as the tach swings toward redline, the exhaust emitting a guttural howl.

— William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of swing

Browse Nearby Words

detonations

detour

detoured

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of detour

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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