TransWikia.com

Lurching vs careening vs swerving

English Language & Usage Asked on June 26, 2021

I’m hoping to be enlightened on the nuances between these three words: lurching, careening, and swerving.

I’m particularly confused about the distinction between lurching and careening. They’re both used to describe vehicles that are driving in some dangerous configuration but that’s where my imagination stops.

From Oxford Languages:

Lurch : make an abrupt, unsteady, uncontrolled movement or series of movements; stagger.

Careen : move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.

Swerve: change or cause to change direction abruptly.

One Answer

Lurching would be a fore and aft movement like accelerating and decelerating. Swerving is a side to side movement. Careening has no specific direction implied, it could include all directions at random.

Answered by Porsher on June 26, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP