pinballed
Careened between obstacles
Pinballed describes bouncing or ricocheting rapidly from one thing to another, like a ball in a pinball machine.
The word usually suggests lack of control or direction: The car pinballed off the guardrails before coming to rest.
It often describes erratic movement through spaces or rapid shifts between states: She pinballed between anxiety and elation all week.
Returned after hitting surface
- reboundedReturned after impact
- ricochetedDeflected after striking
- caromedStruck and deflected
- deflectedCaused to veer off
glanced · cannoned · banked · angled · veered · zigzagged · careened · skipped
bounced
Returned after hitting surface
- reboundedReturned after impact
- ricochetedDeflected after striking
- caromedStruck and deflected
deflected · glanced · cannoned · banked · angled · veered · zigzagged · careened · skipped · bounded
careened
Moved swiftly and unsteadily
zigzagged · wobbled · careering · jounced · jolted · jerked · fishtailed · skidded · weaved · dodged
buffeted
Struck repeatedly, jostled
knocked · bumped · pushed · shoved · batted · thrown · flung · hurled · propelled · shuttled
pinballedbeelined
Went straight toward
made a beeline · streaked · arrowed · shot · cruised
- pinball machinesCoin-op ball-and-bumper games
- pinball wizardSkilled arcade player