1
as in to amuse
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
a light comedy to divert the tired business executive
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2
as in to turn
to change the course or direction of (something)
the bike race was diverted around the construction zone
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of divert
The film tells the dramatic story of three community leaders in Latin America who resisted government and corporate plans to divert critical local water resources to mining and hydroelectric projects.
—
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 19 Apr. 2025
Drivers were being diverted to westbound SR 836, and as of 9 p.m., FDOT was telling drivers to seek alternative routes.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to divert $3 million from the county’s 2018 $134-million settlement with lead-paint manufacturers to test residential properties that are both downwind and within one mile of the Eaton burn scar boundary.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The fourth plane, Flight 93, was diverted and crashed in Pennsylvania.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 19 Apr. 2025
Drivers were being diverted to westbound SR 836, and as of 9 p.m., FDOT was telling drivers to seek alternative routes.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to divert $3 million from the county’s 2018 $134-million settlement with lead-paint manufacturers to test residential properties that are both downwind and within one mile of the Eaton burn scar boundary.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The fourth plane, Flight 93, was diverted and crashed in Pennsylvania.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divert
Verb
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What others think sometimes irritates but mostly amuses us.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
6 May 2025
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My rhetorical tap dance would have amused him, and laughing was one of his preferred pastimes.—
Jeffrey Weiss,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Verb
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There’s a camera grip that also attaches to the bottom of the case to turn the whole setup into something resembling a camera.—
Ben Sin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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Victor Ponta, a former leftist prime minister who has turned conservative nationalist, is ranked fourth but could prove a dark horse.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Verb
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That’s four clubs who are, to varying degrees, distracted from league football.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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Photo: Google Maps Another theory: The glittering Emmys hardly distract from $6.495 million’s worth of truly great bones.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
2 May 2025
Verb
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April 28, 2025 Even amid the negativity, Perry is delivering a strikingly fun, entertaining two-hour show that’s coming to the U.S. next week.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
1 May 2025
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The Browns wouldn’t entertain his trade demand and plan to continue to have Garrett wreck opposing offenses.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Minnesota outscored Los Angeles 127-85 in the collective fourth quarters, a decisive advantage that swung several games in the series.—
Jovan Buha,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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In the markets Chinese and Hong Kong stocks swung between gains and losses in a choppy session on Wednesday.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The president took them through the residence, showing off the Lincoln Bedroom and the Yellow Oval Room while regaling the group with historical facts, and finished the jaunt in the Oval Office.—
Reid J. Epstein,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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There will also be new characters for guests to greet and learn their lore — an eccentric monster hunter and a talented musician who regales guests with songs and tales.—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Niederreiter scored his first goal of the series, too, deflecting Dylan Samberg’s point shot, and then Appleton and Niederreiter combined to get Adam Lowry an empty net goal to make it 5-2 with 3:13 left in the game.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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The president, however, deflected blame from the weak figures reflected in the first economic report card of his second term.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The physical symptoms of anxiety, racing thoughts, tightness in the chest, and excess energy can be redirected into movement (exercise), mindfulness, or strategic thinking.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Legislators may also take up legislation this year to shave off some of the tax revenue the state currently collects from property insurers and redirect it toward a grant program for fire-resistant roofs and vegetation management work.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Divert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divert. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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