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deviate Synonyms

Another word for deviate

Choosing another word for deviate depends on context, so the 24 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 5 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• verb (Context 1)

To depart from an established course, plan, standard, or norm.

Usage Example

"The airline pilot had to diverge from the scheduled flight path to avoid a severe thunderstorm."

Strongest
diverge
depart
stray
Strong
veer
digress
swerve
wander
branch off

• verb (Context 2)

To cause something, such as a light ray or compass needle, to turn aside from a straight course; to deflect.

Usage Example

"A glass prism can deflect a beam of white light and separate it into its constituent spectral colors."

Strongest
deflect
divert
Strong
turn aside
refract
bend

• noun (Context 3)

A person or thing that departs markedly from accepted social norms or standards; a deviant.

Usage Example

"In mid-century sociological literature, someone who rejected social conventions was often labeled a social deviant."

Strongest
deviant
Strong
nonconformist
outlier
aberration
misfit

• adjective (Context 4)

Departing from an established norm, standard, or accepted course; deviant.

Usage Example

"The psychologist studied how deviant behavior is defined across different cultural frameworks."

Strongest
deviant
aberrant
Strong
divergent
anomalous
atypical
nonconformist

• noun (Context 5)

In statistics, the numerical difference between a random variable and a fixed reference value, typically the mean.

Usage Example

"To normalize the dataset, the analyst calculated the standard normal deviation for each observation."

Strong
deviation
residual

Opposites of deviate

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

normal
conform
conformist
adhere
standard
conventional
orthodox
align
See all opposites of deviate

Cite this Entry


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