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deviation Synonyms

Another word for deviation

Choosing another word for deviation depends on context, so the 13 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

The action of departing from an established course, standard, rule, or norm.

Usage Example

"The safety inspector noted a slight departure from the approved building plans."

Strongest
departure
divergence
aberration
Strong
digression
detour
variation
deflection
anomaly

• noun (Context 2)

In statistics and mathematics, the difference between an observed value of a variable and a fixed reference value, typically the mean.

Usage Example

"The researcher calculated the absolute variance for each data point in the sample."

Strong
variance
discrepancy
error
fluctuation

• noun (Context 3)

In navigation, the deflection of a compass needle from magnetic north caused by local magnetic fields aboard a ship or aircraft.

Usage Example

"The navigator consulted the calibration table to correct for compass deflection before plotting the course."

Strong
deflection
offset

Opposites of deviation

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

conformity
adherence
compliance
consistency
uniformity
regularity
See all opposites of deviation

• Nearby Words

deviancy
deviant
deviate
deviation
device
devil
devilish

Cite this Entry

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