1
as in to lurch
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the sled careened as it barreled down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to scurry
to proceed or move quickly
sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 careen
The train hit the truck on the right side, sending it careening northeast into a switching control box and then a telephone pole.
—
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025
An influx of migrants, leading to a spate of high-profile violent attacks, has only added to a sense that the country is careening off course.
—Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Feb. 2025
In January 2018, a car careened off Torrey Pines Road onto the adjacent hillside, landing in the yard of one of the Coast Walk houses below.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
However, borrowing can become a necessity in some cases due to circumstances that are out of our hands — or have careened out of control.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for careen
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025
An influx of migrants, leading to a spate of high-profile violent attacks, has only added to a sense that the country is careening off course.
—Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Feb. 2025
In January 2018, a car careened off Torrey Pines Road onto the adjacent hillside, landing in the yard of one of the Coast Walk houses below.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
However, borrowing can become a necessity in some cases due to circumstances that are out of our hands — or have careened out of control.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for careen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careen
Verb
-
My stomach dropped as my seat lurched backwards, pointing me towards the shoreline.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
As the war lurched into its fourth year, Russian losses of tanks, fighting vehicles and other heavy equipment had exceeded 20,000, according to the analysts at the Oryx intelligence collective, which confirms each loss with imagery from the front line.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The law staggers the commissioners’ five-year terms so the president may appoint a new member annually.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
-
In March, 1945, as the war staggered to a close, some two hundred Hungarian Jewish forced laborers were executed near Rechnitz.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
For years, getting travelers to see Athens as more than a transient city would take some convincing; the extent of their stay at the best hotels in Athens would merely include a brief bucket-list visit to the Acropolis before scurrying off to the Greek islands.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
-
But even that nice moment is tempered by the sound of something scurrying about somewhere in or around her villa.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Combs’ defense team made arguments for delaying the trial up to two months, but the judge was not swayed.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Tribal dancers stomp and sway alongside breakdancers, all in one continuous shot that becomes an anachronistic continuum of Black musical expression across the ages.—
A.A. Dowd,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Sherrod opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown, weaving through the defense before breaking into the open backfield.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Grid fleece weaves in about 5 percent elastane (aka Spandex) in a grid-like pattern (hence the name).—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The ketogenic diet might be an option for treating certain medical conditions, speeding up initial weight loss, and aiding blood glucose management.—
Melissa Nieves,
Verywell Health,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Developers even get granular control over the budget to lower costs and speed things along where appropriate.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Investors looking for winners in the age of AI should follow the advice of Don Valentine, the late founder of Sequoia Capital. Tariffs and tech—these twin forces are rocking the world, from markets to militaries.—
Rich Karlgaard,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
However, the Cincinnati Reds star became a polarizing figure when news of his gambling on games rocked the sports world.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The deals are on now and are good until April 14, so hurry and upgrade your Microsoft Office system today.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Listen to this article Mayor Adams on Monday urged the judge presiding over his public corruption case to hurry up and decide on outstanding dismissal motions before upcoming deadlines in the mayoral race.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Careen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careen. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share