In helicopters, yaw is controlled through the pedals, which alter the angle of attack of the tail rotor blades.
Source: tatoeba (2456460)
Yaw
/jɔː/
Synonyms for "yaw" (171 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (35)
aberrancyaberrationabout shipaxisback and fillbankbear awaybear offbear to starboardbeatbeat aboutbendbiasbox offbranching offbreakbring aboutbring roundcantcant round
Show 13 more words
castcast aboutchange coursechange the headingcircuitousnesscome aboutcornercrabcrookcurvedeclinationdeflectiondeparture
Strong matches (51)
detourdeviancedeviancydeviationdeviousnessdigressiondipdiscursiondivagationdivaricationdivergencediversiondoglegdoubledouble a pointdriftdrift off coursedriftingdriveerrantry
Show 24 more words
excursionexcursusexorbitationfall downfeatherfetch aboutfetch awayfishtailfloundergapego aboutgybehairpinheaveheave roundhobbyhorsehorizontal axisindirectionjibejibe all standinglooplurchmake heavy weathermake leeway
Verb(3 words)
Related words (85)
maneuvermiss staysobliquitypay offpererrationpitchpitch and tossplowplungeplyporpoisepoundpull outpull uppush downput aboutput backramblingrearreel
Show 52 more words
rockrollround a pointsagscendseesawsheershiftshiftingshifting courseshifting pathsideslipskewskidslantslewspinspiralstrayingstuntswagswaysweepswerveswervingswingswing roundswing the sternswingingtackthrow abouttilttiltertosstoss and tumbletumbleturnturn backturningtwistundulatevariationveerwallowwanderingwarpwearwear shipwelterwindyaw offzigzag
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: swerve, aberrancy, aberration, about ship, axis.
- Sentence evidence is available for yaw, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "yaw".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "yaw"
Keep "yaw" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "yaw" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "yaw", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "yaw" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
More specific
8 entriescourse deviationgimbal yawheading deviationheading errorlateral deflectionturret yawyaw leftyaw right
Collocations
8 entriesheading changeheading deflectionvertical-axis rotationyaw angleyaw axisyaw controlyaw movementyaw rate
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
8 total sentences available.
Aerodynamic surfaces are used to control the aircraft in roll, pitch, and yaw.
Source: tatoeba (5325767)
The rudder works to control the yaw of the plane.
Source: tatoeba (5325846)
Successful flight is only possible if all three directions — pitch, roll and yaw — are used in a coordinated effort.
Source: tatoeba (11331062)
Showing 4 of 8 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "yaw"?
Closest matches include swerve, aberrancy, aberration, about ship, axis.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "yaw"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.