unswerving
Britishadjective
Explanation
Something that's unswerving follows a direct path. Because an unswerving person or thing never turns aside, the word is also commonly used to describe steadfast loyalty, like a dog's unswerving devotion to its master. The adjective unswerving often describes loyalty. Your best friend's unswerving loyalty to you, for example, feels secure and dependable — you know she'll always be there for you. You can also use the word more literally, when you talk about something moving in a straight, unswerving line, never making a turn or detour. The verb swerve is at the root of unswerving — originally, it meant "to depart," but by the fourteenth century its meaning was "to deviate from a straight course."
Vocabulary lists containing unswerving
John F. Kennedy's Address to the American People on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
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The Odyssey
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Beast Rider
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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.
Eunice puts aside her grief to raise her children, and Torres turns in a moving performance that is equal parts tamped-down emotions and unswerving determination.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2024
But the president and his team displayed resolve, empathy, and an unswerving dedication to pushing toward a peaceful solution.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024
Patrick Begg, the trust's natural resources director, said that climate change demanded "urgent and unswerving attention" and presented "the single biggest threat to the places in our care".
From BBC • Nov. 19, 2023
Vice President Mike Pence ended his cash-strapped presidential campaign on Saturday, after struggling for months to convince Republican voters he was the best alternative to the man he once served with unswerving loyalty, Donald Trump.
From Reuters • Oct. 28, 2023
At nineteen, his life was planned out in a straight unswerving line.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.