deviating
Going off course
Deviating describes departing from an established course, standard, or norm.
Something that is deviating strays from what is expected or typical: The deviating flight path triggered an alert.
The word functions as both a present participle of deviate and as an adjective characterizing behavior, paths, or values that diverge from the usual.
Her deviating opinions made her unpopular with the committee.
Splitting into separate directions
- forkingDividing into branches
- bifurcatingDividing into two branches
- veeringChanging direction suddenly
- departingIn process of leaving
splitting · separating · diverging · radiating · ramifying · splaying · spreading · angling
Traveling with no fixed course
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- roamingMoving without fixed purpose
- driftingMoving without purpose
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
aimless · astray · sidetracked · off-course · wayward · errant · digressing · detoured
Lacking regularity or consistency
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- fluctuatingShifting irregularly over time
- variableProne to fluctuation
- unstableProne to sudden change
unpredictable · anomalous · aberrant · sporadic · uneven · wayward · capricious · random
Departing from standard practice
- unorthodoxContrary to accepted practice
- nonstandardDeparting from established norms
- atypicalNot conforming to type
- abnormalDeviating from typical
eccentric · quirky · idiosyncratic · maverick · rebellious · dissenting · heterodox · contrarian
branching
Splitting into separate directions
- forkingDividing into branches
- bifurcatingDividing into two branches
- veeringChanging direction suddenly
departing · splitting · separating · diverging · radiating · ramifying · splaying · spreading · angling · yawing
wandering
Traveling with no fixed course
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- roamingMoving without fixed purpose
- driftingMoving without purpose
rambling · aimless · astray · sidetracked · off-course · wayward · errant · digressing · detoured · misdirected
erratic
Lacking regularity or consistency
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- fluctuatingShifting irregularly over time
- variableProne to fluctuation
unstable · unpredictable · anomalous · aberrant · sporadic · uneven · wayward · capricious · random · varying
unconventional
Departing from standard practice
- unorthodoxContrary to accepted practice
- nonstandardDeparting from established norms
- atypicalNot conforming to type
abnormal · eccentric · quirky · idiosyncratic · maverick · rebellious · dissenting · heterodox · contrarian · renegade
- Going astraywandering, straying, drifting, getting lost, off course
- divergingforking, splitting, branching, parting, separating
deviatingstraight
Not curved or crooked
direct · unswerving · undeviating · nondeviating · linear
deviatinguniform
Identical throughout
consistent · steady · constant · regular · unchanging
- standard deviationSpread around the mean