Find Synonyms

detour Synonyms

Another word for detour

Choosing another word for detour depends on context, so the 15 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

A long or roundabout route taken to avoid an obstacle, a closed road, or to visit a specific place along the way.

Usage Example

"Because of the bridge repair, drivers had to take a five-mile diversion through the countryside."

Strongest
diversion
Strong
bypass
roundabout
deviation

• verb (Context 2)

To take a long or roundabout route in order to avoid an obstacle or visit somewhere along the way.

Usage Example

"We detoured around the flooded highway and arrived an hour later than expected."

Strong
deviate
divert
turn aside
veer

• noun (Context 3)

A temporary departure from a planned course of action, career path, or topic of discussion.

Usage Example

"Her career in medicine took a brief digression when she spent two years teaching abroad."

Strongest
digression
Strong
deviation
departure
tangent
excursion

• verb (Context 4)

To direct or cause traffic or travelers to take an alternative, roundabout route.

Usage Example

"Local authorities detoured all northbound traffic onto the secondary service road."

Strongest
reroute
divert
Strong
redirect
deflect

Opposites of detour

The opposite of detour shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

shortcut
beeline
See all opposites of detour

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Detour. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/detour
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