diverging

verb

present participle of diverge
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

Relevance
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

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 diverging The diverging fortunes of the poorest and wealthiest Americans has emerged as a key theme in the US economy, and experts say AI is playing a significant role. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 Different regions, given their diverging strengths and interests, face different challenges. — Alois Zwinggi, Time, 24 June 2026 Amid the government’s heated rhetoric, our data shows public opinion on immigration in one of the country’s reddest agricultural states is diverging from national politics and may even be at odds with federal policy. — Lisa Meierotto, The Conversation, 22 June 2026 After losing Saint Pepsi to trademark law, DeRobertis and future funk took diverging paths—the former towards nu-disco and synthpop, the latter towards a new artistic disposition made up of anime girls and neon colors. — Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 13 June 2026 Workload characteristics are diverging, power density is rising and the right deployment model may vary by latency, regulatory requirements, data sensitivity and utilization patterns. — Kiran Palla, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 The diverging opinions that arose during a public hearing in Hartford this spring revealed a host of concerns, from cost to quality to workforce needs. — Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverging
  1. deviating
  2. separating
  3. turning
  4. parting
  5. dividing
  6. forking
  7. retreating
  8. spreading
Verb
  • Subaru redesigns its midsize SUV without deviating from winning formula.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • Her full-length works often feature people, especially women, holding their ground and deviating from societal expectations, which creates dissonance between their internal and external worlds.
    — Sky Davis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026
Definition of deviating
Verb
  • One of the corrective actions involves modifying the engine startup sequence on the Super Heavy booster during its flip maneuver after separating from the Starship upper stage a few minutes after liftoff.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
  • For Flight 13, after separating from Starship high above the Earth, the Super Heavy V3 would fly back to perform a pinpoint splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico—a landing that the booster failed to stick during Flight 12.
    — Lee Billings & Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 July 2026
Definition of separating
Verb
  • Mike Gansey and the Philadelphia 76ers don’t have an inkling which way the LeBron James leaves are turning.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • That volatility mirrors the album’s overall mood and thematic POV; TOY COLLAGES feels like one big, bad trip, Dean careening through the existential delusions of those around them before turning toward their own.
    — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
Definition of turning
Verb
  • And Champion’s parting words to us about Messi ahead of kickoff proved prescient.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • The house sits in a landscape of almost unimaginable beauty, cradled in the warm embrace of its own green valley, dramatic hills rising steeply on all sides but parting ahead to reveal distant fields.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Definition of parting
Verb
  • In the move, a company will restructure, dividing itself into two or more distinct entities, and then transfer valuable assets to one entity, leaving the other with substantial liabilities.
    — Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026
  • Her sophomore studio album strikes gold with a co-producer — Texas country institution Miranda Lambert — who has over 20 years of history dancing on the line dividing country and pop.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of dividing
Verb
  • Working families are forking over a fortune at the gas pump and in the grocery aisle.
    — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • Someone who’s paying a fortune, and therefore expects super-human service in exchange for six-figure annual dues or forking over $4,000 per night for a room?
    — Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of forking
Verb
  • Cardinal and Lilly also set fresh record closes last week, before retreating modestly, as J & J has, in recent sessions.
    — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 14 July 2026
  • And larger investors were already retreating from the single-family market.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of retreating
Verb
  • Kovich said attracting new development will ultimately be key to lowering rates further by spreading the cost of the water system across more customers.
    — Nina Burns, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Many consumers are visiting more stores and making smaller purchases at each one, spreading their spending around rather than sticking to one retailer out of habit or loyalty.
    — Arthur Zackiewicz, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
Definition of spreading

Browse Nearby Words

diverges
diverging
divers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diverging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverging. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on diverging

Nglish: Translation of diverging for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All