divagation

Definition of divagationnext
1
as in tangent
a departure from the subject under consideration this may well appear to be a divagation at first, but I hope to establish the relevance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in deviation
a turning away from a course or standard a self-consciously "literary" novel that represents a major divagation from traditional narrative

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for divagation
Noun
  • Its loose structure allows for a wealth of tangents, touching on everything from whether HBO shows have the right amount of nudity to the hosts’ personal lives.
    Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The realization inspired Shapiro’s team to go off on a tangent, mapping the flow of oxygen to coral tissues via cilia.
    Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The movie itself disappoints him for its deviations from the Stephen King novel (including this detail may help preempt criticisms over this adaptation), but he’s also distracted by the presence of a strikingly handsome stranger (Homer Gere).
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Leaders need a baseline of normal behavior for each agent and the ability to detect deviation from that baseline.
    Steve Wilson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • At 11/2, Liverpool are third-favourites to win the 2026/27 Premier League title, reflecting how much talent is still at the club even after the departure of some key figures.
    Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sacramento Regional Transit will adjust six bus routes beginning Sunday, including delaying departure times and eliminating one early-morning trip from Florin.
    Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Divagation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divagation. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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