swerve
verb
ˈswərv 
swerved; swerving
intransitive verb
: to turn aside abruptly from a straight line or course : deviate
transitive verb
: to cause to turn aside or deviate
swerve noun
Synonyms
- break
- cut
- sheer
- veer
- yaw
- zag
- zig
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He lost control of the car and swerved toward a tree. the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road
Recent Examples on the Web The incidents have included dangerously close fly-bys that force other pilots to swerve to avoid collisions, or harassment or obstruction of air and ship crews, including with blinding lasers or water cannon. 
Lolita C. Baldor, Anchorage Daily News, 27 July 2022 That’s not nearly enough time to hit your brakes or swerve to avoid a deer or any other sort of obstacle. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 26 Jan. 2021 While the initial investigation indicated the front left tire of the pickup truck had blown out, causing the crash, an NTSB report released Thursday said there's no indication a tire failure led the pickup truck to swerve into the oncoming lane. Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, 14 July 2022 Officials said there was evidence the man tried to swerve to avoid colliding with Ganeshananda’s car. Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2021 While driving in the far-left travel lane, Carr leaned over to kiss a woman in his front passenger seat, causing the SUV to swerve and hit the median barrier, according to the statement. Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 Still, horns would blare, and some geniuses would swerve at me slightly. Nick Offerman, Outside Online, 21 July 2022 Take the classic example: A child runs out into the street in pursuit of a ball, leaving the driver to decide whether to brake or swerve. Jaclyn Trop, Fortune, 14 June 2022 Police stopped Kiris near the intersection of Lake Cook and Birchwood roads after observing him swerve between lanes. Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2022 See More
Lolita C. Baldor, Anchorage Daily News, 27 July 2022 That’s not nearly enough time to hit your brakes or swerve to avoid a deer or any other sort of obstacle. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 26 Jan. 2021 While the initial investigation indicated the front left tire of the pickup truck had blown out, causing the crash, an NTSB report released Thursday said there's no indication a tire failure led the pickup truck to swerve into the oncoming lane. Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, 14 July 2022 Officials said there was evidence the man tried to swerve to avoid colliding with Ganeshananda’s car. Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2021 While driving in the far-left travel lane, Carr leaned over to kiss a woman in his front passenger seat, causing the SUV to swerve and hit the median barrier, according to the statement. Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 Still, horns would blare, and some geniuses would swerve at me slightly. Nick Offerman, Outside Online, 21 July 2022 Take the classic example: A child runs out into the street in pursuit of a ball, leaving the driver to decide whether to brake or swerve. Jaclyn Trop, Fortune, 14 June 2022 Police stopped Kiris near the intersection of Lake Cook and Birchwood roads after observing him swerve between lanes. Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English sweorfan to wipe, file away; akin to Old High German swerban to wipe off, Welsh chwerfu to whirl
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Kids Definition
swerve 1 of 2
verb
ˈswərv
swerved; swerving
: to turn aside suddenly from a straight line or course
The van swerved to avoid an oncoming car.
swerve
2 of 2noun
: an act or instance of turning aside suddenly
swerved
verb
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
- veered
- zagged
- cut
- turned
- yawed
- bowed
- circled
- sheered
- wandered
- zigged
- curved
- arched
- broke
- swept
- bent
- curled
- pivoted
- rounded
- twisted
- slewed
- skewed
- arced
- zigzagged
- crooked
- strayed
- hooked
- wheeled
- weaved
- spiraled
- deviated
- looped
- about-faced
- wavered
- slued
- wound
- coiled
- spiralled
- winded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightened
2
as in curved
to turn away from a straight line or course the bike path gently swerves to the right Synonyms & Similar Words
- curved
- swept
- bowed
- rounded
- arced
- turned
- arched
- fell off
- crooked
- bent
- trended
- hooked
- wheeled
- curled
- veered
- circled
- looped
- spiraled
- winded
- deviated
- spiralled
- coiled
- twisted
- wound
- curlicued
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightened
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
- arched
- hooked
- veered
- bowed
- curled
- curved
- turned
- bent
- crooked
- twisted
- waved
- deflected
- rounded
- weaved
- swirled
- diverted
- reflected
- arced
- inflected
- incurved
- meandered
- spiraled
- inclined
- looped
- dented
- kinked
- incurvated
- coiled
- warped
- entwined
- enrolled
- sloped
- twined
- spiralled
- wound
- dimpled
- declined
- winded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightened
- uncurled
- unbent
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
- deviated
- swung
- veered
- turned
- detoured
- diverged
- sheered
- zigzagged
- wheeled
- turned off
- tacked
- turned back
- doubled (back)