careening

verb

present participle of careen
1
as in lurching
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the sled careened as it barreled down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in staggering
to move forward while swaying from side to side he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in speeding
to proceed or move quickly sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 careening The pickup was careening all over the roadway, the deputy wrote later that day. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026 An attempt to slow the plane by grabbing onto the wing only results in the wing snapping off while the fuselage keeps careening towards the ground. — James Grebey, Time, 26 June 2026 The collision sent Bowie careening into a minivan parked nearby. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026 Dashcam footage posted on social media showed the aircraft careening down the highway, taking out a light post before coming to a stop. — CBS News, 17 June 2026 Dashcam footage posted on social media shows the aircraft careening down the highway, taking out a light post before coming to a stop. — ABC News, 17 June 2026 The concern is whether such stocks shot too high, too fast because of AI mania, and their careening moves have sometimes reversed direction by the hour. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 The crash in the Houston suburb of Katy gained immense attention after video from the incident showed the car careening into the side of the home. — Samantha Elkins, NBC news, 25 June 2026 Steele’s video shows a black Jeep Cherokee pass his vehicle on the left shoulder, hitting the front of his vehicle and careening across lanes of traffic to strike Wright’s SUV. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careening
  1. lurching
  2. staggering
  3. speeding
  4. swaying
  5. weaving
  6. scurrying
  7. rocking
  8. hurrying
Verb
  • The same boom-and-bust dependency on the oil industry, whose profits were now funnelled through the regime and its allies, kept the country lurching from one crisis to the next.
    — Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
  • The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 25 June 2026
Definition of lurching
Verb
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hand and small heads.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of staggering
Verb
  • Boise and Ada County have created infractions for speeding on the Greenbelt, and the city worked with Lime, a popular electric transportation company, to limit scooter speeds in parts of the city.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
  • The driver, 26-year-old Saah Foiyoe, was neither speeding nor impaired, according to police.
    — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
Definition of speeding
Verb
  • The coffin was unveiled late on Thursday to a throng of sobbing supporters, who were swaying and beating their heads in time to a sung lament as flowers were thrown from the bier into the crowd.
    — Reuters, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of swaying
Verb
  • Following the mini concert, attendees dispersed across the property, gathering around a massive outdoor fireplace and weaving through the home’s stylish interiors.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • Some riders gallivant and whoosh past bystanders, weaving in and out and putting surrounding passersby on edge.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of weaving
Verb
  • If seeing one scurrying through your living room sends you scrambling for a quick remedy, your instincts are on track.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • The cute animal, who was wearing a leash, was seen happily scurrying around the sandy coastline at sunset, while also taking a dip in the water, alongside Atkins' dog.
    — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Definition of scurrying
Verb
  • The country’s massive celebrations have made international headlines, with videos of exuberant fans rocking cars and even buses going viral.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Just remember the most important part when rocking a bowl cut is the attitude.
    — Genesis Rivas, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Definition of rocking
Verb
  • Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
  • No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of hurrying

Browse Nearby Words

careened
careening
careens
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Cite this Entry

“Careening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careening. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of careening for Spanish Speakers

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