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

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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

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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 The two-part film is adapted from the hit Broadway musical Wicked, but these two original songs mark the first musical divergence the films have made from the original material, written and composed by Stephen Schwartz. Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 The new species had at least 5% genetic divergence from related species. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 According to Lewris, the summer data shows that there is still a divergence between sellers and buyers, even as the latter are gaining leverage over the first. MSNBC Newsweek, 25 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 See All Example Sentences for divergence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divergence
Noun
  • While some critics have taken issue with this fundamental deviation from Shelley’s script, others believe there could be merit in this new, lighter-touch creature.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Detecting deviations from the routine, the stereotypical, was a forte for AI.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With goal difference not a factor in this three-match format, there was no incentive for Miami to push forward in the final period, and Nashville never looked like turning the contest around.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Careful measurement of these differences might still allow scientists to distinguish between the two scenarios.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The infant first detecting maternal absence, the pet abandoned in an alley, the friend suddenly iced out have all felt the sudden departure of someone who was expected to be there.
    Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The blues poem is frequently poised at the moment of departure, the train pulling away from the station, a life left behind.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With universities under pressure to fire anti-Trump faculty and cut diversity programs, divinity schools will lose their academic freedom.
    Rev. Nathan Empsall, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Key pillars include driving innovation, such as using AI in retail, prioritizing sustainability through its Net Zero roadmap and fostering a people-first culture that emphasizes well-being and diversity.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divergence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divergence. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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