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
Ethel initially hoped to deviate from her family’s career trajectory. Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025 But Jay deviates from the personal to offer her thoughts on a range of topics: Carrying her girlfriend’s bag? Will Digravio, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviate
Adjective
  • Cancerous lumps vary greatly in appearance but usually tend to have a few similar characteristics, including an abnormal shape; rapid growth; ulcerated areas; abnormal color; hair loss; and attachment to an underlying tissue.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The surgery—an ablation (where doctors burn away abnormal tissue)—lasted a few hours, and recovery took three weeks.
    Katrina Martin, Health, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The days of pandering to perverts and woke PFCs are over.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Another of the girls called Essex a pervert, which prompted their mother to ask more questions.
    Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Barbie’s birthday on March 9, when the iconic doll will turn 66.
    Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The event’s third iteration is set to run from January to April 2026 at the JAX District, an industrial site turned arts complex in the historic town of Diriyah, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
    News Desk, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Of the six substitutions Slot made in the defeat to PSG, Quansah was the brightest addition to the side, despite coming on at right-back, an unnatural position for him.
    Andy Jones, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • 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.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • At another point, a surface-to-air missile takes out a passenger airliner, something that really happened — but the attack is as purposeless here as the tragic original event, other than to remind us that Valet, who surveys the wreckage for valuables, is a degenerate.
    Boris Fishman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As if on cue, the closed front door suddenly swings wide open on its own.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Shares of MicroStrategy swung from a 14% rally when the market opened to trading down more than 1.8% Monday afternoon.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Use a bow rake, with forged metal tines, to grade and smooth the terrain.
    Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Aerodynamic rakes are metal fence-like structures covered in sensors that are typically positioned around the front axle or rear axle and diffuser.
    Yara Elshebiny, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • This allowed his team to track what happened to the embryos, then check whether any of the PGT-A results diverged from reality.
    Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Shanghai, Shenzhen, and the STAR Board diverged to close -0.12%, +0.33%, and -1.52%, respectively, on volume that decreased -13% from Friday, which is 140% of the 1-year average.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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