1
as in divergency
a movement in different directions away from a common point a growing divergence of opinion about that U.S. president's place in history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in deviation
a turning away from a course or standard any divergence from the community's strict moral code was met with social ostracism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of divergence According to projections released last week, that’s almost a full percentage point lower than any of his 18 colleagues on the Fed’s rate-setting committee, an unusually high divergence. Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025 Fossils have hinted at dog-like traits appearing more than 30,000 years ago and yet genetic studies have often pointed to a much later divergence from wolves. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Over time, such divergence must lead to catastrophe. Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025 Washington’s abandonment of internationalism and any concern for liberal norms and agenda setting is leading to a divergence of values and threat perceptions among Western countries that will fundamentally break the solidarity of the geopolitical West. Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divergence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divergence
Noun
  • But these past two games have been a stark deviation from that clean brand of football.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Screwing the MasterFrame 600’s graphics card brace to the lower edge of its open side was our only deviation from ordinary build practice.
    Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But at least some of his teammates notice a difference in Guerrero when the opponent is New York.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The sherry needs to be manzanilla or fino, which is a difference in kind to the more oxidative types of sherry, like Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado, or the very sweet Pedro Ximénez.
    Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Policy Forum previously reported 2012 was another high point for educator departures in Wisconsin, likely related to the 2011 passage of Act 10.
    Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Rather than having to track down ice at every turn, just pop this case and its TSA-compliant ice packs in the freezer prior to departure to keep your medication safe while in the air.
    Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Gender diversity is not pathological, agrees the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, another organization that’s critical of the practice.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
  • There’s Andrea Labbée, a motivational speaker with a theater background; Gaile Holland, for decades a local ballet teacher whose former students include Winter; and Lisa Nalven, a veteran of notable modern dance companies, now a photographer impassioned by human diversity.
    Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Divergence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divergence. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on divergence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!