curveball
noun
curve·ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl 
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball verb
Example Sentences
The batter struck out on a curveball.
Recent Examples on the Web With a runner on first base and one out, Aaron Ashby walked two batters to load the bases and then hit Austin Romine with a curveball to tie the score. —
Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2022 Lange, known for his swing-and-miss repertoire, punched out Harrison with a curveball, Andrus with a fastball and Moncada with a changeup. —Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2022 His fastball clocked as high as 99 mph and was consistently in that range during his stint with Tri-City to go along with a nasty curveball and slider. —Dallas News, 17 July 2022 McKenzie walked four batters, but managed to keep the Royals off balance with a sharp curveball. —Joe Noga, cleveland, 9 July 2022 Many Mets fans remember Beltrán striking out looking at a nasty curveball from Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals to end Game 7 of that series instead of his many other accomplishments with the team. —David Waldstein, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2023 The weather-resistant fabric with stretch and smart pockets will prepare you for whatever curveball life throws at you. —Maverick Li, Men's Health, 3 Feb. 2023 On a 20-80 scouting scale, Baseball America graded Jobe's tools like so: 60 fastball, 50 curveball, 70 slider, 60 changeup and 55 control. —Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2023 Louis-Dreyfus’ giddiness is understandable, given the curveball Marvel represents at this point in her career. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Jan. 2023 See More
Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2022 Lange, known for his swing-and-miss repertoire, punched out Harrison with a curveball, Andrus with a fastball and Moncada with a changeup. —Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2022 His fastball clocked as high as 99 mph and was consistently in that range during his stint with Tri-City to go along with a nasty curveball and slider. —Dallas News, 17 July 2022 McKenzie walked four batters, but managed to keep the Royals off balance with a sharp curveball. —Joe Noga, cleveland, 9 July 2022 Many Mets fans remember Beltrán striking out looking at a nasty curveball from Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals to end Game 7 of that series instead of his many other accomplishments with the team. —David Waldstein, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2023 The weather-resistant fabric with stretch and smart pockets will prepare you for whatever curveball life throws at you. —Maverick Li, Men's Health, 3 Feb. 2023 On a 20-80 scouting scale, Baseball America graded Jobe's tools like so: 60 fastball, 50 curveball, 70 slider, 60 changeup and 55 control. —Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2023 Louis-Dreyfus’ giddiness is understandable, given the curveball Marvel represents at this point in her career. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Jan. 2023 See More Word History
First Known Use
1936, in the meaning defined above