Definition of diversionnext
1
2
as in amusement
the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public movies and television became two of the most popular and influential diversions of the 20th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in deviation
a turning away from a course or standard carefully weighed testimony that did not contain the slightest diversion from the truth

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 diversion The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office stopped making pre-trial mental health diversion referrals last year, citing limited resources. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026 In addition to the $10 million, Harris oversaw the department’s diversion of millions of other taxpayer dollars to pay for political consultants and ads to defeat the two amendments, the Herald/Times reported last year. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026 According to Jefferson County Circuit Court records, Soto-Pantoja is part of a pretrial diversion program that allows for a criminal case to be expunged after five years of law-abiding behavior, including paying fees and passing drug tests, Mascagni said. Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026 This diversion of resources means that nearly $1 out of every $5 of federal revenue will eventually be consumed just to service the debt, crowding out investment in other national priorities. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for diversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diversion
Noun
  • Short flights, warm weather, golf, and entertainment made Las Vegas an attractive destination for Canadians.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The character designs are delightful, the physicality of the animals a constant source of amusement and the lush green backgrounds of the woodsy setting make Hoppers a treat for the eyes.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The theatre of it all—the silly drama, the amusement—has survived the cross-country move gloriously intact.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The DigiMEP platform’s reporting architecture extends from individual service visits to enterprise-level dashboards, where equipment health, service verification, and performance deviations can be analyzed in aggregate.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Obviously, that’s a deviation from the book, because Benedict’s bisexuality is a deviation from the book.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Tedd, who has worked in Carmel Valley for about 20 years running the Master Sports program at local recreation centers such as Carmel Valley and Pacific Highlands Ranch, had been interested in buying a portable basketball hoop and some canopies, but ended up buying a farmers market.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Precinct judge Machetta Hayes said the recreation center had about 250 voters by noon.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The stakes are high as the industry awaits whether the new collection will signal a departure from the bold, intricate aesthetic that defined Olivier Rousteing’s 14-year tenure at the house.
    Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
  • But this follows the introduction of the iPhone 16e last year, a departure from the sporadic releases of its previous budget smartphone, the SE line.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Speaking via Zoom with his father, Jim, sitting next to him, McKenna is engaging, affable and, frankly, a delight.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026
  • These plantain treats — bound to make French fries and onion rings turn limp and soggy with insecurity — are merely a weekly afternoon delight.
    Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • No corrections, no shortcuts, no regrets about the detour.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Those kinds of detours come at a cost.
    Francesca Street, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The up-and-coming It girl is giving a masterclass in 90s nostalgia while giving it a fun, modern twist that is just so contagious.
    Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 6 Mar. 2026
  • As pleasure-seeking Venus alights within your 5th House of Self-Expression, fun projects sparkle, and your spirited humor invites others to join a playful challenge.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Diversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diversion. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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