deviate 1 of 3

deviate

2 of 3

noun

deviate

3 of 3

verb

as in to turn
to change one's course or direction sailors forced to deviate from their course in order to avoid the storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deviate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deviate are depart, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When is it sensible to use depart instead of deviate?

Although the words depart and deviate have much in common, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When is digress a more appropriate choice than deviate?

While the synonyms digress and deviate 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, in the sense of deviate?

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 can swerve be used instead of deviate?

The words swerve and deviate 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

When might veer be a better fit than deviate?

In some situations, the words veer and deviate are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deviate
Adjective
Her pitch was simple: Homosexuality is a sin, and if homosexuals were given carte blanche to glamorize their ‘deviate lifestyle’ in Miami-area classrooms, the American family would be destroyed and the American way of life would disappear. Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025 Aggravating circumstances: Rape/criminal deviate conduct, on probation or parole, mutilation/torture. Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2014
Noun
The map shows how far the night skies in different parts of the world deviate from natural sky brightness. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2016 But despite the stress on the program, Campbell didn’t deviate from his core values — choosing redshirt sophomore quarterback Hunter Dekkers over anyone from the portal. Dallas News, 14 July 2022
Verb
But in March, Schumer deviated, leading a group of 10 Democratic senators to vote with the GOP to avert a government shutdown. Bradley Tusk, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025 In an ad hoc statement on April 9, the company recognized that the preliminary first-quarter result deviated significantly from analyst expectations of around 4 billion euros. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviate
Adjective
  • Storm surge is defined by the National Hurricane Center as an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm.
    Mallory Nicholls, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025
  • One or more other symptoms like abnormal eye movements (nystagmus), vomiting, paleness, or fearfulness are also present.
    Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Just when things are looking up — a haughty British couple leaves this daughter of Oxfordshire a handsome tip — the dinner pervert turns up for his morning coffee.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Outside the courthouse on Friday, Toner’s lawyer made a brief statement about his pervert client.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • At Christian Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri worked to turn a legacy house into a home.
    Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 May 2025
  • For her, the idea of being surrounded by people, especially while grieving, felt overwhelming and unnatural.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Those who hold advanced degrees in mathematics and analytics, or your favorite degenerate gambler, know any piece of datum is only reliant on the trove of data that occurred previously.
    Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 7 May 2025
  • This 24-hour dive near Uptown is for true degenerates looking to extend the party to unholy hours.
    David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025
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
Noun
  • Flattening and Excavation One of the best ways to eliminate existing ant hills is to level the ant hill with a rake or shovel.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
  • The cabinet measures approximately 53 inches wide, 64 inches tall, and 17 inches deep, offering ample storage space for tool boxes, shovels, rakes, leaf blowers, potting soil, and more.
    Maggie Horton, People.com, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Privacy, security, and ethics are converging, not diverging.
    Diana Spehar, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Additionally, responses diverged by geographic region.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviate. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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