divergent

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 project highlights widely divergent views on AI’s potential to reshape entertainment as the two countries compete for dominance in the highly competitive AI space. Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025 That an artist crafted 83 songs of divergent styles – garage rock, country, Mexican ranchera and lush pop – as his leftovers illuminates Springsteen’s musical brilliances as well as the epic scope of this set. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 24 June 2025 What remain enduringly relevant are the book’s insights into the nature of design innovation, which Jencks described as analogous to biological evolution, a constant flow of emergent, divergent, and convergent streams. Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025 The Distributed Responsibility Challenge These divergent approaches reflect different theories of technological governance. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for divergent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divergent
Adjective
  • Does this album feel different from other projects after achieving that sense of liberation?
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
  • Silver’s Dual Role as a Precious and Industrial Metal Silver’s story is a little different, but no less compelling.
    Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Meeting space, which is also popular for weddings, is another distinctive amenity.
    Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025
  • The country has a low cost of living, a low crime rate and distinctive cuisine.
    William P. Barrett, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • Literature has a distinct ability to illuminate truth’s multiplicities; writers like Ullmann remind readers that fact and fiction are fragile categories, and that collapsing them can yield enthralling results.
    Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
  • Consider Stapleton International Airport’s reincarnation as Denver’s Central Park neighborhood, or suburban Chicago’s Glenview Naval Air Station’s rebirth as The Glen, a live-dine-play-shop community featuring 2,000 homes in eight distinct enclaves.
    Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some of the last barriers to acceptance of AI as nearing AGI are overcome when AI demonstrates creativity, emotional nuance, and abstract reasoning in diverse contexts.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • Moreover, the 33 year old state Assemblyman was carried to victory by an extremely diverse coalition, winning Asian voters (+15), Hispanic voters (+6), and White voters (+5) according to an analysis by the New York Times.
    Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 13 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divergent. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on divergent

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