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 Fox departed Sacramento this February, traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls to the Kings. Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Preparing to pay Brock Purdy a massive contract forced some key free agents to depart San Francisco, including multiple starters in the secondary. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2025 Southwest Airlines Flight 3006 first departed from the Hobby airport en route to Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, Mexico. Charna Flam, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Staub returned for the show's second season, but departed thereafter. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • While stocks may continue their short-term celebration, the long-term sustainability of this rally is being undermined by something few are talking about: a major foreign holder of U.S. debt may be exiting the market in protest.
    Joel Shulman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Wong remained in the game to finish the inning but soon exited.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Iconoclastic critic, art historian, and photographer Max Kozloff, who served as Artforum’s executive editor in the 1970s before turning to his own artistic practice, died on April 6.
    News Desk, Artforum, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The saxophonist in his band also died, according to manager Enrique Paulino.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The bill also included moving $1.1 million from the Constitutional Defense Fund into the Legislative Legal Defense Fund.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Our reporters talk to each other and move around candidates from one category to another.
    Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • More than 1,500 passengers and crew perished; only around 710 of those on board survived.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
  • At least 70 whales have perished since the start of the year in the shallow lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula where the animals gather to calf, nurse and breed.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the Knicks went 0-10 against the league’s top three teams (the Celtics, Cavaliers and Thunder).
    James L. Edwards III, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • If one or two bounces had gone the other way, Dartmouth would have advanced to the final four for the first time in school history.
    Jay King, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And bond market yields fall by about 150 basis points (1.5 percentage points).11 The Fed Fed Chair Powell says the Fed is waiting for the softening survey data to translate into hard data before moving toward lower interest rates.
    Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Those numbers dropped to 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds on 48% FG in 2023-24 and then fell drastically this season to 19.0 points and 5.9 boards on 42% FG shooting.
    Eric Wong, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This refreshing serum gets its tingle from peppermint and tea tree, which works with caffeine to invigorate the scalp and maximize the absorption of the formula’s peptides.
    Emily Orofino, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Buttery, flaky croissants peak through and get nice and toasty in the oven.
    Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After Norman disappeared, Zizz borrowed a friend's vehicle and left the area.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • If gate donations continue to decline, street festivals will continue to shrink or simply disappear.
    Pamela Maass, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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