1
as in to lurch
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the sled careened as it barreled down the hill
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2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head
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3
as in to scurry
to proceed or move quickly
sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of careen
The Pitt is an intense show, its nearly real-time structure careening from one stressful emergency scenario to the next, only occasionally pausing to wallop us with an inevitable yet emotionally devastating moment of mortal tragedy.
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Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
This is a man who, in just over two weeks of his second term, has careened from one disastrous decision to another, to the point where even his most loyal sycophants are struggling to keep up.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
But evaporating government protections and economic instability are soon to come careening into an already precarious season of industry.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2025
The truly brave will want to conquer Velocity Peak, a high-speed water tower with three slides that can send riders careening off at 55 miles per hour.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for careen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careen
Verb
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For the 80 people on board the flight from Minneapolis, the world lurched immediately after the wheels hit the ground.—
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Fritz revved the engine, a desperate, needling whine, and the vessel lurched down the airstrip, the chute billowing awake behind him.—
Verb
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As minutes get staggered, being able to anchor a second unit and help out the starters while also on the court matters.—
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As the bullet smashed into it the animal staggered, but came right on.—
Verb
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Rats scurry across the halls, smuggled in inadvertently between the folds of a homeless man’s clothes.—
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Runner, sprinter, bolter, scarper, scurrying 'fighter'.—
Verb
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Bregman’s wife got accepted to Harvard Extension School early last week, perhaps swaying his decision.—
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Lincoln is gradually radicalized to act and Douglass learns how to moderate his message to sway politicians.—
Verb
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Her latest feature, The Ice Tower (La Tour de glace), is no exception, weaving a twisted retro fairytale that sits somewhere between Frozen and Mulholland Drive.—
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Watch the video | Rare 1,600-year-old purple fabric — woven with gold threads — found in France.—
Verb
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An automobile sped around another car stopped for crossing signals on Wisconsin Highway 14 near Kenosha and into the path of a Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad electric passenger train heading south for Chicago at 70 mph.—
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Some experts have warned that Trump's agenda might speed up the program's insolvency.—
Verb
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Soto’s decision – and earnings – rocked the baseball world in December, especially in New York City.—
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Florida's southwest waterways are being rocked by red tide and a separate toxic algae bloom, which is believed to be linked to discharge from Lake Okeechobee.—
Verb
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Georginio Rutter hurried back from hernia surgery to start.—
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These deals won't be around forever, so hurry up and add these to your cart!—
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Cite this Entry
“Careen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careen. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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