Synonym Chooser

How does the verb depart contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of depart are deviate, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Where would deviate be a reasonable alternative to depart?

The synonyms deviate and depart are sometimes interchangeable, but deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace depart?

While the synonyms digress and depart 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?

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 is it sensible to use swerve instead of depart?

The meanings of swerve and depart largely overlap; however, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When can veer be used instead of depart?

The words veer and depart are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 depart Foreman departed our 2025 reality in early January, at age eighty-seven. Andrew Lampert, Artforum, 1 May 2025 For the government jobs left at the state and local level, recent grads are likely competing with those departing from federal jobs. Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 American Airlines charged just 22 cents per mile for domestic flights departing from Fresno Yosemite International Airport, the online lender said. Fernanda Galan, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Pereira knows that Wolves will lose players in the summer, with Cunha and Ait-Nouri two saleable assets likely to depart, while other more peripheral players will inevitably move on. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • While the circumstances at each fashion house were unique, with some designers resigning and others exiting at the end of their latest contract, the end result points to another youthquake moment.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 5 May 2025
  • But since Scherzer exited early from his season debut, the Blue Jays have been scrambling for a fifth starter.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • Steven Burns is about to get another chance to convince commissioners that the same man who left Catina to die that night, is a changed man.
    Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025
  • After her victory, France paid tribute to her son Henry, who died from leukemia last year.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Verb
  • Golden eagles will forage during migration flights and use this uplift from heated air, which also comes from open landscapes, to move efficiently during migration and seasonal movements.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Some of those are moving along very well, especially the – with the Asian countries.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • How kids get left in hot cars The news that a child has perished in a hot car usually sends shockwaves through the local community and can make national headlines.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The gaping cut across the bow, showing the boiler room where the engineers perished, is an astonishing sight in the film.
    Sean Kingsley, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards poked the proverbial bear, Doncic turned his game up a notch, scoring 31 points to go with 12 rebounds and nine assists (on a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line) to give the Lakers a 94-85 victory in Game 2, evening the series.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
  • And then, all of the sudden, the girlfriend’s gone.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rising bond yields Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds typically fall – and their prices rise - as investors flee stocks for the safe haven of Treasuries during economic slowdowns.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The basic premise of DeSantis’s primary candidacy—that Republicans wanted Trumpism without Trump—fell apart once the former president started hoovering up media attention and gained a wide lead in the polls.
    Drew Nelles, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After the performances are over and this year's inductees are revealed, viewers will get the chance to vote for their favorite contestants before eliminations.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Otherwise, a ton of talented players got to achieve their dreams this weekend.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Much of the production that Boston typically counts on disappeared.
    Jay King, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Some bumblebee populations have been disappearing from the southern parts of their geographic range and have been found in cooler regions to the north and in more mountainous areas.
    Courtney McGinnis, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

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