verb (used without object),de·vi·at·ed,de·vi·at·ing.
to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc.
to depart or swerve, as from a procedure, course of action, or acceptable norm.
to digress, as from a line of thought or reasoning.
verb (used with object),de·vi·at·ed,de·vi·at·ing.
to cause to swerve; turn aside.
adjective
characterized by deviation or departure from an accepted norm or standard, as of behavior.
noun
a person or thing that departs from the accepted norm or standard.
a person whose sexual behavior departs from the norm in a way that is considered socially or morally unacceptable.
Statistics. a variable equal to the difference between a variate and some fixed value, often the mean.
Origin of deviate
1625–35; <Late Latin dēviātus turned from the straight road, past participle of dēviāre.See deviant, -ate1
SYNONYMS FOR deviate
1 veer, wander, stray.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR deviate ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for deviate
1. Deviate,digress,diverge,swerve imply turning or going aside from a path. To deviate is to turn or wander, often by slight degrees, from what is considered the most direct or desirable approach to a given physical, intellectual, or moral end: Fear caused him to deviate from the truth.To digress is primarily to wander from the main theme or topic in writing or speaking: Some authors digress to relate entertaining episodes. Two paths diverge when they proceed from a common point in such directions that the distance between them increases: The sides of an angle diverge from a common point. Their interests gradually diverged.To swerve is to make a sudden or sharp turn from a line or course: The car swerved to avoid striking a pedestrian.
OTHER WORDS FROM deviate
de·vi·a·ble,adjectivede·vi·a·bil·i·ty[dee-vee-uh-bil-i-tee], /ˌdi vi əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, nounde·vi·a·tor,nounnon·de·vi·at·ing,adjective