deviate

Noun · Verb · Adjective
Synonyms: pervertdeviantdegeneratedivertvarydivergedepartaberrant

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behaviorSynonyms: pervertdeviantdegenerate

Verb (3)

  1. turn aside; turn away fromSynonyms: divert
  2. be at variance with; be out of line withSynonyms: varydivergedepart
  3. cause to turn away from a previous or expected course“The river was deviated to prevent flooding”

Adjective (1)

  1. markedly different from an accepted norm“aberrant behavior”“deviant ideas”Synonyms: aberrantdeviant
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Deviate \De"vi*ate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviating.] [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to go, travel, via way. See Viaduct.] To go out of the way; to turn aside from a course or a method; to stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to diverge; to vary. [1913 Webster]

Thus Pegasus, a nearer way to take, May boldly deviate from the common track. --Pope.

Syn: To swerve; stray; wander; digress; depart; deflect; err. [1913 Webster]

Deviate \De"vi*ate\, v. t. To cause to deviate. [R.] [1913 Webster]

To deviate a needle. --J. D. Forbes. [1913 Webster]

deviate \de"vi*ate\ (d[=e]"v[-e]*[i^]t), a. having behavior differing from that which is normal or expected, especially in an undesirable or socially disapproved manner; as, deviate behavior.

Syn: deviant. [PJC]

deviate \de"vi*ate\ (d[=e]"v[-e]*[i^]t), n. a person having behavior differing from that which is normal or socially acceptable; -- used especially to characterize persons whose sexual behavior is considered morally unacceptable.

Syn: deviant. [PJC]

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