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
The OnePlus Watch 3 shows similar heart rate accuracy to the OnePlus Watch 2, and both fare better than the OnePlus Watch 2R in this regard, as the budget model deviated from Ultra 2’s numbers slightly more in my testing. PCMAG, 18 Feb. 2025 Between the lines: The company hasn't deviated from its pledge to go net-zero by 2050, Coben says. Alan Neuhauser, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviate
Adjective
  • Obviously, that probably will change, but Newcastle are under no abnormal pressure to sell and there have so far been no signs of the player agitating to leave.
    David Ornstein, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Yet my company has found there’s a wealth of efficiency in adopting AI tools like equipment monitoring to spot abnormal trends and predictive maintenance strategies to reduce downtime, waste and rework and maximize quality and efficiency.
    Gary Hoover, Forbes.com, 27 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
  • Throughout the past decade, pitchers have turned their focus to training techniques that increase their average velocity and the over-all movement of the ball—even at the expense of throwing strikes.
    Lindsey Adler, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
  • In recent months, however—alongside skinny jeans and the like—the side fringe tide has slowly started to turn.
    Daisy Jones, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • To such animals, friendship is utterly unnatural, entirely a product of will.
    Ann Hulbert, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The phrase has been heard more and more this century as states reveal themselves to be less than resilient in the face of natural and unnatural disasters.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 Feb. 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
  • With Orlando trailing by 2 points less than a minute into the fourth quarter at Spectrum Center following a disastrous third, Hornets guard LaMelo Ball looked to swing the ball to Nick Smith Jr. waiting in the corner.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Still no timetable on anything, but he’s been able to swing the bat and feel like there’s been some steady improvement day after day.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Use an artificial turf rake to clean your mat and keep the surface smooth for the best results.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Then, use a rake to spread each pile of compost evenly in all directions until the compost is dispersed and your lawn is covered.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In dueling lawsuits and PR missives, both sides offer scenarios that both overlap and diverge.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Young women and men appear to be diverging politically.
    Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviate. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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