VEER Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'veer' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of veer are depart , deviate , digress , diverge , and swerve . While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," veer implies a major change in direction. // at that point the path veers to the right

Q: When would 'depart' be a good substitute for 'veer'?

While in some cases nearly identical to veer , depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type. // occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Q: When could 'deviate' be used to replace 'veer'?

The synonyms deviate and veer are sometimes interchangeable, but deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course. // never deviated from her daily routine

Q: In what contexts can 'digress' take the place of 'veer'?

Although the words digress and veer have much in common, 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, in the sense of 'veer'?

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 might 'swerve' be a better fit than 'veer'?

The words swerve and veer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness. // swerved to avoid hitting the dog

veer 1 of 2

verb

ˈvir

Definition of veer

as in to deviate

to change one's course or direction at this point the river veers to the southwest before finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to turn

to change the course or direction of (something) veered the ship abruptly to the right to avoid a collision

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to swerve

to depart abruptly from a straight line or course without warning the car veered to the left and into an oncoming truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straighten

veer

2 of 2

noun

as in turn

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb veer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of veer are depart, deviate, digress, diverge, and swerve. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

When would depart be a good substitute for veer?

While in some cases nearly identical to veer, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When could deviate be used to replace veer?

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

never deviated from her daily routine

In what contexts can digress take the place of veer?

Although the words digress and veer have much in common, 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, in the sense of veer?

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 might swerve be a better fit than veer?

The words swerve and veer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

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 veer

Verb

Then political discourse in Cannes veered into a raging debate over the use of AI in film. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 The performance is daringly weird, perverse and outlandish, seductively charming, and, for all the flamboyance, Curry never veers out of control, never takes it too far. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Noun

Go back, watch the GIF above and look at where the ball is when Clement begins to veer. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 8 June 2026 The tone of the first nine episodes veers wildly as the focus switches from character to character, story line to story line, and actor to actor, and that’s true of pretty much any young-people-in-the-city show. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for veer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer

Verb

City officials previously said that the Boveys deviated substantially from the initial plans.

— Susan Sarkauskas, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
The artisans stay true to the original colors and designs of the park — never deviating in 70 years.

— Carole Horst, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of deviate

Verb

After successful demonstration in ground and airborne trials, the company turned its attention to a GravNav, a system that senses changes in gravity fields.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
There’s no better time to start turning your closet over for the season ahead.

— Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of turn

Verb

As a result of the collision, the 20-year-old driver of a Toyota Tacoma swerved to avoid hitting the Mercedes-Benz, the outlet reported.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Towards the end of the teaser (around 21 seconds), a black car is seen swerving around traffic.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of swerve

Noun

What an intriguing and clever twist on the classic bank heist narrative, with powerful female performances at its core by Carrie Crowley, Bríd Brennan and Eva-Jane Gaffney.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
The smashburger was the same as always, juicy and full of cheese, and the dill and pickle in the Caesar salad brought a bright and refreshing twist to the classic.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of twist

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

Verb

The threat of shortages pushed countries across Asia to impose export bans, cut import duties, and start rationing fuel to maintain supplies.

— Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Unlike the heavy smoky eyes and cut creases of the 2010s, this trend is throwing it back to the 1990s when smoky eyes were more minimalist.

— Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of cut

Noun

The world of the show isn’t perfect, but its characters are kind in the face of obstacles, and each half-hour arc bends reassuringly toward justice.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
The researchers observed bends, wiggles, kinks, gaps, branches, spurs and clumps.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of bend

Verb

Sometimes, operators were forced to drain one pond and divert its water to save fish in another, the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Inter-branch Organization said in early August.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Tax allocation districts are designated areas where a certain amount of property tax revenue growth is diverted away from governments and used to fund specific improvements within that district.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of divert

Browse Nearby Words

veejays

veer

veered

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Style

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

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Synonyms of veer

verb

noun

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