DEPART Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

depart

verb

di-ˈpärt

Definition of depart

as in to exit

to leave a place often for another I'll sing one more song before I depart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to die

to stop living a special tribute for those members of the motion picture academy who have departed over the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 And as rain departs Friday, a rush of north wind will bring the temperatures back to normal as the atmosphere stabilizes. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Paramount+ head of originals Jane Wiseman is departing the streamer as the post-merger combination of it and HBO Max takes shape. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026 Chiang departs amid rumors that Xbox is preparing more layoffs this month, in November, and January. — Tom Warren, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026 Halo hasn’t been the same since original developer Bungie — now owned by Sony and working on Destiny and Marathon — departed, leaving 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) to guide the franchise. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depart

Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart

Verb

Shortly after, a heavyset man wearing gray sweats, white socks and black sandals and a black hooded sweatershirt exits the passenger-side door.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Saquon Barkley missed the previous two games because of a hamstring injury before exiting Monday's loss after just nine snaps with a back injury.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of exit

Verb

Kate Whiteman, the woman who first filed a lawsuit against the men, died in late 2025 at age 45 in Australia.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Rent played its first preview off-Broadway, at the New York Theatre Workshop, on January 25, 1996—the same day that Jonathan Larson, its 35-year-old composer and librettist, died suddenly at his home in Manhattan.

— Vogue, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of die

Verb

The next president may well also have more power to purchase equity stakes; legislation moving through the Senate would give the Pentagon explicit legal authority to do so.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is moving forward with a $4 million investment to run an ad featuring Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother after the video received fierce backlash.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of move

Verb

In the film, Carrie impales Margaret (Piper Laurie) with flying kitchen knives, crucified within a door frame, before perishing herself.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Eons ago a star up to 30 times the mass of our sun collapsed and perished, forming a black hole.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of perish

Verb

Since then, the Buffaloes have gone 18-26, including a 9-4 effort from a 2024 roster that including his son Shedeur Sanders, who is now with the Cleveland Browns, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Pat Dowell, 3rd, and others have called the session for Monday to have the council clarify that the $75 million will go toward the city’s pensions now.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of go

Verb

In most cases where the acquirer is en route to paying a price amounting to a humongous PE, the acquirer’s stock falls.

— Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
The Orionid meteor shower creates one of the most brilliant displays in the night sky each fall — but this year’s celestial event may have a dimmer showing due to a bright moon.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall

Verb

Ironically, these uninsured Americans may be helping drive the cost of health care even higher, fueling a cycle in which health insurance gets more expensive, forcing more people to drop coverage.

— Alana Semuels, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Why concert tickets keep getting more expensive Artists, promoters, venues, and ticketing platforms all take a cut of each ticket.

— James LaForge, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of get

Verb

Short enough to read in a single sitting, Sara Gran’s chilling story of an architect succumbing to demonic possession will leave readers stunned and unsettled.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026
The city’s Medical Examiner ruled the victim’s death a homicide after determining Wong succumbed to stab wounds to his neck and torso.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of succumb

Browse Nearby Words

deodorizing

depart

departed

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Style

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of depart

verb

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