1
as in lurching
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the sled careened as it barreled down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in staggering
to move forward while swaying from side to side
he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in speeding
to proceed or move quickly
sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of careening
And, eventually, so many symptom-free years had gone by that my diagnosis began to seem like just one more zany tale from my careening twenties.
—
Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
All teams careening toward, at best, exhibition bowl season.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 22 Oct. 2025
Eyewitnesses reported seeing one of the railway’s two cars derailing and careening down the street before hitting a building.
—Angélica Franganillo Díaz, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Highball glasses from the MoMA Design Store appear to be defying gale-force winds in real time, careening permanently to the left.
—Emily Johnson, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2025
The games have always been fast and loose with physics, and the omnimovement system only exasperated it by giving everyone the Matrix-style power to shoot backward while careening down a flight of stairs.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
The event comes as the government is careening toward a potential shutdown that could force some 2 million troops to work without pay if a spending bill doesn't pass Congress by midnight Wednesday.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
Last month, Sony marked the start of production by releasing a video of Holland on set on the first day in Glasgow, in an elaborate stunt sequence that had Holland, as Spider-Man, landing on a tank careening through the city.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Then there were the gym class scooters, which were basically just a flat plastic surface and four wheels of death that would send you careening across the gym floor, often crushing your fingers in the process.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
All teams careening toward, at best, exhibition bowl season.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 22 Oct. 2025
Eyewitnesses reported seeing one of the railway’s two cars derailing and careening down the street before hitting a building.
—Angélica Franganillo Díaz, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Highball glasses from the MoMA Design Store appear to be defying gale-force winds in real time, careening permanently to the left.
—Emily Johnson, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2025
The games have always been fast and loose with physics, and the omnimovement system only exasperated it by giving everyone the Matrix-style power to shoot backward while careening down a flight of stairs.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
The event comes as the government is careening toward a potential shutdown that could force some 2 million troops to work without pay if a spending bill doesn't pass Congress by midnight Wednesday.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
Last month, Sony marked the start of production by releasing a video of Holland on set on the first day in Glasgow, in an elaborate stunt sequence that had Holland, as Spider-Man, landing on a tank careening through the city.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Then there were the gym class scooters, which were basically just a flat plastic surface and four wheels of death that would send you careening across the gym floor, often crushing your fingers in the process.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careening
Verb
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The mood is lurching between calm and doom-mongering chaos.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To get through the season and the playoffs, staggering the minutes of Green and Horford is logical, even with Quintin Post picking up some center minutes.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
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Cleaning can be an overwhelming task, so consider staggering your projects.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That mindset is a result of the mental exhaustion and anguish of their postseason drought, which is speeding toward a full decade and represents the longest current stretch in the NBA.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Oct. 2025
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Police do not believe the driver of the Dodge Ram was speeding or intoxicated.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 2023, House Republicans held hearings on the companies' roles in swaying votes around environmental, social and governance investing.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
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In another video, which Anaver shared on Facebook two days later, the interior of his home could be seen swaying back and forth.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The builders said the pipeline will follow its pipeline predecessors, weaving across Arizona, New Mexico and California where others already exist, using some existing infrastructure.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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The pattern is described as a decorative textile craft that utilizes knotting instead of weaving or knitting to craft apparel or decorative items.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Inside, there’s the occasional model being fitted and photographed, outside there are truck drivers, caterers, lighting specialists and many more milling around or scurrying about.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
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Normally, the hours and days before the prospect of a shutdown on Capitol Hill are filled with scenes of lawmakers and aides scurrying about to negotiate possible settlements.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While Kevin started out pop rocking with his younger brothers Nick and Joe in 2005, the group’s members began to venture out by 2011, with Joe releasing his debut solo album, Fastlife, and Nick hitting the road with his side project, Nick Jonas & the Administration, that year.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
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North's friend played the role of Usher, rocking an all-white outfit adorned with a single white glove — just like the musician wore — and lip-syncing into a microphone.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, the children could be seen hurrying off the bus and onto the woman’s porch as the smoke grew.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Pedestrians are hurrying past to find their places on Fifth Avenue, but the girls have a different kind of readiness about them.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Careening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careening. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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