veer 1 of 2

verb

ˈvir How to pronounce veer (audio)
Definition of veernext
1
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

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2
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
3
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

veer

2 of 2

noun

as in turn

Synonyms & Similar 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
Sometimes, conversations are veering to end-of-life care. —Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2025 The math veered out of alignment, Burgess testified. —Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
But be wary if every conversation veers toward selling products, memberships or supplements. —Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The drink is bright green and veers toward the sweeter side of the flavor spectrum, with notes of tart citrus and earthy green tea. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for veer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer
  1. deviate
  2. turn
  3. swerve
  4. twist
  5. swing
  6. cut
  7. bend
  8. divert
Verb
  • An example might be a SaaS company adding consulting or training services that enhance the core software experience without deviating too far from its expertise.
    — Will Fan, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • The spending proposal lawmakers approved, negotiated among the Democratic House and Senate leaders and the governor’s office, deviates from Pritzker’s original plan in certain areas, including funding for elementary and secondary education.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • At Christian Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri worked to turn a legacy house into a home.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 29 May 2025
  • The model, who turns 18 on May 29, 2025, made her runway debut in 2023 Comments Zaya Wade is one stylish teenager!
    — Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of turn
Verb
  • Videos showed the car hit and toss a person wrapped in a red Liverpool flag into the air and then swerve into a sea of people packed on the side of the road.
    — Brian Melley, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
  • Instead of deepening Mila’s character or showing consequences for her actions, these plot swerves manifest as a series of inexplicable decisions made by the protagonist.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 27 May 2025
Definition of swerve
Noun
  • What did the major twist at the end of the movie mean?
    — Caroline Blair, People.com, 5 June 2025
  • This is only the latest twist in a legal saga that started last October when 23XI and Front Row filed a lawsuit against NASCAR, arguing that they were unfairly shut out of charter ownership despite purchasing charters from Stewart-Haas Racing.
    — Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of twist
Verb
  • The president's team has now swung the pendulum in the opposite direction from five years ago, even attempting to rescind findings of constitutional violations in the cities where Floyd and Taylor lost their lives.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • The momentum swung again on the next hole when Griffin saved par from behind a tree in the fairway and Schmid curiously aimed away from the hole with his ball plugged in a bunker, ended up in the rough and made bogey.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 May 2025
Definition of swing
Verb
  • President Joe Biden promoted a suite of policies meant to cut carbon emissions by boosting EV sales.
    — Camila Domonoske, NPR, 3 June 2025
  • The band moved to Berlin and poured all their energy into cutting their second album, Why You Lacking Energy.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
Definition of cut
Noun
  • Its steering is tight and precise, and throwing its 1,800kg mass around bends is heaps of fun thanks to its grippy tyres.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The biggest knocks on Sawyer were his subpar measurables (31 3/4-inch arms) and the lack of bend or nuance in his pass-rush plan.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Definition of bend
Verb
  • However, some flights from Catania have been diverted to Palermo, according to Flight Radar Data.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
  • All southbound Interstate 5 traffic was diverted off the freeway onto Camino de la Plaza, creating a detour on San Ysidro streets, Caltrans said on the social media platform X shortly before noon.
    — Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
Definition of divert

Browse Nearby Words

veejays
veer
veered
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Cite this Entry

“Veer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veer. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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