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 Employees are encouraged to respectfully challenge assumptions and put forth divergent viewpoints. Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 That still leaves room for hugely divergent views on how the poems came into being. Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 There are a few possible reasons for the divergent observations, including the atmosphere responding to different temperature levels during its orbit or magnetic activity shifting in the exoplanet’s star. Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 16 July 2026 Two people with divergent intuitions about what’s normal, or endurable, can end up tussling over the same territory. Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for divergent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divergent
Adjective
  • After airing a 19th season that limped its way to the finish line, Bravo probably should have tried something a little different for the next one.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 31 July 2026
  • In the comics, Battleworld stitched together all the different worlds and plopped every hero and their variant into one new universe.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
Adjective
  • Night after night, Swift would perform for more than three hours, running back her career one era at a time, each one its own world with distinctive sets, costumes, and colors.
    Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Trademark law protects distinctive brand identifiers—like words and symbols—that tell the public exactly who is behind a product.
    Ashlee Difuntorum, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • While the precise number of brokers managed by each service varies, there are some distinct differences.
    Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers looked at differences between the modern human and Neanderthal genomes and identified distinct genetic changes in Neanderthals’ growth hormone receptor—a key cell protein that helps regulate growth throughout the body.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Is Little Feat the most influential American rock band that never achieved mainstream success, in large part because its music was simply too diverse and good to make major commercial inroads?
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • So part of the challenge is to build a structure that tamps down the diverse risks to our lives and livelihoods and create a greater opening for these positive local trends to grow and fluorish on the national and international level.
    William Hartung, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Divergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divergent. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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