deviate

9 synonyms and 1 antonym for deviate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To move away from a planned course, method, or expected standard.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

vary

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

depart divert

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

degenerate pervert deviant diverge perve perv

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To move away from a planned course, method, or expected standard.

“The pilot had to deviate from the flight path to avoid the storm.”

vary depart divert degenerate pervert deviant diverge

Opposites

conform

2. noun

A measured value showing how far a variable differs from a fixed reference point.

“Each deviate was plotted against the expected mean.”

deviant pervert perve perv degenerate

How to use deviate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

deviate from the plan deviate from the norm slightly deviate

Etymology

From Late Latin dēviātus, past participle of dēviāre, "to turn out of the way" — from de- ("off") + via ("road").

Full origin of deviate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “deviate” mean?

The word “deviate” means to move away from a planned course, method, or expected standard. In plain terms, to go off the expected route, plan, or pattern.

How do you pronounce “deviate”?

“Deviate” is pronounced DEE-vee-ayt (/ˈdi.vi.eɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “deviate” in a sentence?

Here is “deviate” used in a sentence: “The pilot had to deviate from the flight path to avoid the storm.”

What part of speech is “deviate”?

Depending on how it is used, “deviate” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “deviate” come from?

The word “deviate” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin dēviātus, past participle of dēviāre, "to turn out of the way" — from de- ("off") + via ("road").

Is “deviate” a common word?

“Deviate” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “deviate” have?

“Deviate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move away from a planned course, method, or expected standard.

Related words

deviant deviation

People also searched

vary depart conform divert degenerate pervert diverge perv deviant

Nearby words

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