swerved
Dodged while driving
Swerved is the past tense of swerve, meaning to turn sharply or veer suddenly from a straight course: She swerved to avoid the deer.
Often implies an abrupt, evasive movement—whether literal or figurative: He swerved away from the topic whenever it came up.
Turned sharply aside
- steeredControlled direction of travel
- laneDesignated travel strip
- curveSmooth, angleless line
- turnRotational movement
skid · maneuver · drift · wheel · zigzag · trajectory · path · bend
Avoided by quick movement
- missedFailed to reach
- avoidedDeliberately stayed away from
- evadedSuccessfully avoided capture
- sidesteppedAvoided by moving aside
circumvented · bypassed · eluded · deflected · averted · near-miss · obstacle · pedestrian
Involuntary stimulus response
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- startledAbruptly surprised or alarmed
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
- jerkedPulled with abrupt force
sudden · split-second · automatic · impulse · quick · jolt · panic · adrenaline
veered
Turned sharply aside
turn · skid · maneuver · drift · wheel · zigzag · trajectory · path · bend · road
dodged
Avoided by quick movement
sidestepped · circumvented · bypassed · eluded · deflected · averted · near-miss · obstacle · pedestrian · pothole
reflex
Involuntary stimulus response
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- startledAbruptly surprised or alarmed
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
jerked · sudden · split-second · automatic · impulse · quick · jolt · panic · adrenaline · overcorrected
deviated
Departed from standard
pivoted · shifted · detoured · digressed · off-track · tangent · redirected · about-face · U-turn