Synonyms

curveball

American

[kurv-bawl] / ˈkɜrvˌbɔl /

Or curve ball

noun

Baseball.

a pitch with a downward spin that causes the ball to drop and veer as it approaches home plate, away from the side from which it was thrown.

He started perfecting his curveball during his junior year in high school.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

curveballs

plural

Etymology

Origin of curveball

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has added a cutter to the mix, to pair with his curveball and slider.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

But Musk threw potential investors a curveball last week when he posted on X that SpaceX had requested a short-term deal to kick things off.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

The curveball was that the adviser said he was taking a break from golf, but was seen on the course shortly after.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Then left-hander Brennan Bernardino came on in relief and tied up a clearly frustrated Max Muncy with a curveball, striking him out and ending a scoreless inning with Freeman stranded on third.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

The Mud Hens had a roster slot, and the scout had a notion to fill it with the pitcher with the wicked curveball, name of Earl Grayson.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023