1
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curved
to turn away from a straight line or course
the bike path gently swerves to the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arched
to cause to turn away from a straight line
a dog dashed out in front of me and made me swerve my bike to one side of the bike path
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deviated
to change one's course or direction
the hurricane had been following the coastline before it swerved and headed inland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swerved
More spikes were set up, and Cramer swerved and then crashed head-on into Martin’s patrol vehicle and launched him about 100 feet, authorities said.
—
Jack Dura, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
After being hit, the Ford passed a 2024 Volvo semi-truck, which swerved to avoid the crash and struck a 2023 Chevy Tahoe Fremont County patrol vehicle, the statement said.
—Christina Shaw, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2024
At midnight, the dark road swerved in the windshield on the way home.
—Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
Police stated that during the pursuit the suspect tried to run over an officer, ran multiple red lights and swerved into oncoming traffic.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 9 Oct. 2024
The driver’s vehicle swerved to avoid a ladder on the freeway just north of Portola Parkway in Irvine.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Bella Hadid may have walked at Saint Laurent, but the Beckhams swerved the paps.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2024
Jack Dura, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
After being hit, the Ford passed a 2024 Volvo semi-truck, which swerved to avoid the crash and struck a 2023 Chevy Tahoe Fremont County patrol vehicle, the statement said.
—Christina Shaw, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2024
At midnight, the dark road swerved in the windshield on the way home.
—Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
Police stated that during the pursuit the suspect tried to run over an officer, ran multiple red lights and swerved into oncoming traffic.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 9 Oct. 2024
The driver’s vehicle swerved to avoid a ladder on the freeway just north of Portola Parkway in Irvine.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Bella Hadid may have walked at Saint Laurent, but the Beckhams swerved the paps.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerved
Verb
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George swept the Irish in a 2017-19 home-and-home.—
Pete Sampson,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
-
The Cavs would get swept in the NBA Finals, but everybody knew James was here to win from that point on.—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With a history dating back to 1774, this iconic, travel-friendly footwear brand has been keeping shoppers hooked for centuries.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Mar. 2025
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And yet, the viewer is hooked, invested in seeing what happens to Jamie after he is arrested.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
TIME,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With their heads bowed, and some hands gripped together, each stayed quiet as a chaplain spoke life into their calling.—
Deon J. Hampton,
NBC News,
3 Jan. 2025
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With their heads bowed, and some hands gripped together, each stayed quiet as a chaplain spoke life into their calling.—
Deon J. Hampton,
NBC News,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The ball curled through the proverbial eye of a needle, between Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, and behind Alexis Mac Allister, who was forced to spin on his heels.—
Laurie Whitwell,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
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The old woman, though, stares at the screen, the shadow of a smile curled into her lips and a frown barely creasing her forehead.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerved. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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