1
as in deviating
to change one's course or direction
the deer abruptly diverged from its intended path the moment it spied the waiting lynx
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in separating
to go or move in different directions from a central point
at that point the road and the railroad tracks diverge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of diverging
In contrast with many previous drafts, there is diverging thought as to what the team will do.
—
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The election has also underscored two sharply diverging visions for the future of peace in a country marked by years of conflict.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
That asymmetry is the reason the two categories are diverging into different industries with different physics, different buyers and different definitions of success.
—Ashutosh Saxena, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
But BofA said weakening market breadth and diverging momentum signals suggest the next leg higher could prove more difficult.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 27 May 2026
By its end, there is even less coherence between the characters and plotlines, diverging into a few pages from the perspective of a desperately horny lesbian crab.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
The Strait of Hormuz closure and resulting gas price shocks became additional talking points for both sides, though from diverging perspectives.
—Chaewon Chung
april 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Two Hollywood Reporter editors have diverging views.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
Four years on from its last season, and various other press tours, brand ambassadorships, and diverging lives later, there emerged distinctly different red carpet aesthetics.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The election has also underscored two sharply diverging visions for the future of peace in a country marked by years of conflict.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
That asymmetry is the reason the two categories are diverging into different industries with different physics, different buyers and different definitions of success.
—Ashutosh Saxena, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
But BofA said weakening market breadth and diverging momentum signals suggest the next leg higher could prove more difficult.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 27 May 2026
By its end, there is even less coherence between the characters and plotlines, diverging into a few pages from the perspective of a desperately horny lesbian crab.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
The Strait of Hormuz closure and resulting gas price shocks became additional talking points for both sides, though from diverging perspectives.
—Chaewon Chung
april 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Two Hollywood Reporter editors have diverging views.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
Four years on from its last season, and various other press tours, brand ambassadorships, and diverging lives later, there emerged distinctly different red carpet aesthetics.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverging
Verb
-
Charles Melton sweetly dedicated an award to his wife and newborn daughter, deviating from his famously private nature.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
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However, it was criticized by pacifists at home and China for deviating from Japan’s postwar self-defense only principle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The security perimeter kept demonstrators at a distance from the facility, with barricades and checkpoints separating roughly 100 protesters from the detention center.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
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Historical memory is hugely helpful in separating false promises from sincere innovation, and that should make living legends ideal for steadying progress.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Now, the soon-to-be junior and 2024 Team USA Olympic alternate has plans of turning UGA gymnastics into a superpower, drawing enthusiasm similar to the school’s most prominent sport.—
Hunter DeLauder,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
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The company specializes in repurposing old baseball gloves and turning them into one-of-a-kind leather products, particularly wallets, billfolds, card cases and money clips.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Lemieux had looked good just days before, walking through fans parting in the Bell Centre concourse.—
Dan Robson,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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And the plan involves parting ways with businesses that have been in the bank’s portfolio for decades, such as retail banking in Russia, China, and Mexico.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Verb
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The encounter, captured on video, quickly gained international attention, dividing those who believed the zoo was in the right to kill Harambe for the child's safety, and others who found the act inhumane.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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By 1997, Ultimate Fighting began to join more conventional combat sports in dividing fighters into weight classes, for safety’s sake.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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In one video clip, an elderly couple could be seen forking out the remnants of their flat, where the window facade was completely shattered.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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However, every day the Treasury is still forking out billions of dollars to manage existing service payments to lenders.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Haiti continues to stand before far larger powers — culturally, economically, politically — without retreating.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
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The video appears to show a person standing with a snow shovel outside the house, near the street, then retreating toward the house and tossing the shovel into the yard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Speaking of spreading the floor, Wembanyama has 20 more 3-point field goals at the end of his third season than all-time NBA 3-point leader Stephen Curry.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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When someone dies of Ebola, their body continues to be highly contagious for seven or so days, with the virus spreading through bodily fluids.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Diverging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverging. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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