divergent

Definition of divergentnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divergent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of divergent are different, disparate, diverse, and various. While all these words mean "unlike in kind or character," divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

When would different be a good substitute for divergent?

While the synonyms different and divergent are close in meaning, different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

When might disparate be a better fit than divergent?

The meanings of disparate and divergent largely overlap; however, disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

When is diverse a more appropriate choice than divergent?

The words diverse and divergent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

Where would various be a reasonable alternative to divergent?

The synonyms various and divergent are sometimes interchangeable, but various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

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 divergent The cities’ Republican mayors took contrasting, if not entirely divergent, positions. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026 Disney+’s first Star Wars show, The Mandalorian, was most-streamed among two interestingly divergent groups, Gen Alpha (ages 2 to 13) and Boomers (ages 62-80). James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2026 Those divergent truths point to the sober reality that the vast majority of people who have existed on this planet lived under some form of tyranny. Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 At a gubernatorial debate this week, a half-dozen Democrats offered divergent views on the state's future — most of whom are within striking distance of each other in the polls — while two Republicans battled for space on the general election ballot. Anne Bryson, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for divergent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divergent
Adjective
  • Chapultepec Castle, once a sovereign residence, is worth a visit, as is Audiorama, an area filled with benches and speakers that pump out different types of music.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • Health officials are now investigating whether the outbreak involves the Ebola Zaire strain — the deadliest and most well-known version of the virus — or a different variant, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • The oat crust contributes its own distinctive earthy, toasty flavor.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
  • Balagov is indisputably a filmmaker with his own distinctive vision, ideally matched with Evgueni and Sacha Galperine’s glowering score and with Fray’s nimble shooting style, which often takes its cue to get in close from the knotted bodies on the wrestling mats.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • With two distinct waves of iPhone 18 handsets arriving, Apple can leverage this to their advantage, bringing more users to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max handsets, disrupting Android’s Mobile World Congress launch cycle, and giving the iPhone 18 a clear run as its consumer-friendly champion.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • Through a combination of archival footage, interviews with surviving contemporaries, and many, many photos, the film attempts to get to the bottom of Avedon’s distinct knack for capturing celebrities at their very best.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • The family belongs to Sudan’s Nuba minority, a Black, ethnically diverse group of some three million people indigenous to the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, an oil-rich, agricultural region next to Darfur.
    Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • The Proust Questionnaire, the static back page of Vanity Fair’s book for decades, will inspire interviews with a diverse set of public figures and will be filmed at the homes of subjects.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Divergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divergent. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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