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 For every stodgy conservator who might consider the guitar a tawdry, lowbrow diversion, there’s a cultural critic who dismisses it as an object of boomer nostalgia, about as musically relevant in this post-rockist era as the harpsichord. Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 In December, Wallen pleaded conditionally guilty due to judicial diversion, and a Nashville judge sentenced him to one week of incarceration, to be served at a DUI education center, as well as two years' probation: one year for each of his misdemeanor charges for reckless endangerment. Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 May 2025 Jacks, who was fired by People Service, was accepted into Washington County’s diversion program, which allows first-time offenders to avoid convictions by successfully completing the conditions of probation. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 May 2025 American spy agencies have explicitly warned about G42’s strong ties with China in the past, so this would significantly increase the risk of diversion of this technology to China. Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for diversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diversion
Noun
  • And yet, for many, that's a price worth paying to have Central Park in your backyard, the Met as your local museum, and Broadway-caliber talent for regular entertainment.
    Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2025
  • India’s position as a mobile-first entertainment market continues to drive streaming growth, with PwC research showing that Indians are spending 78% of their time on mobile phone apps related to entertainment and media.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Nintendo is capitalizing on the launch with the opening of a store in San Francisco and the Super Nintendo World amusement facility in Orlando, Florida, both set for this month.
    Ayaka Mcgill, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
  • The amusement part was divided into the Alpine Center, Water World and Motor World.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • The recent evolution of Mexican food in New York has been gratifying, not so much because of deviation from the classics but by the refining of them and giving them a modern twist in terms of color, presentation and better ingredients.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Transcriptions of episodes of the Outside Podcast are created with a mix of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and may contain some grammatical errors or slight deviations from the audio.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Amid unsettling changes, Americans touted the curative powers of the natural world, fueling the call for outdoor exercise and recreation, and laying the groundwork for the astounding growth of national and state park tourism.
    Time, Time, 3 June 2025
  • April’s report showed that job openings increased across most sectors, with some of the largest upswings seen in arts, entertainment and recreation; mining and logging; information; and professional and business services.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Rittman said Tuesday that though Shawnee police officers spoke to Manny over the phone, the department will continue to investigate Manny and Luca’s departure until officers can make contact with them in person.
    Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
  • Now a trio, following the departure of bassist Max Oleartchik, Big Thief recorded Double Infinity live over the span of three weeks at New York’s Power Station, with longtime collaborator Dom Monks handling production, engineering, and mixing duties.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Set in 1950, but exploring the mystery of individual temperament at the center of worldwide millennial conflict, The Phoenician Scheme poses Welles’s inquiry about human nature while appealing to movie-lovers’ delight.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 May 2025
  • These events, often held in vibrant and relaxed settings, offer a blend of flavorful food and premium cannabis, allowing attendees to indulge in both culinary delights and recreational use of cannabis in a socially engaging environment.
    Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • There’s a stand-out scene where Matthew Lillard, playing Marty’s acquaintance Gus, advises him to take a detour to work as a sinkhole has just opened up on the road to his commute.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
  • For something even more offbeat, take a detour to the Katla Geopark for ice cave adventures in near solitude.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • And Kelce and Mahomes will take part in the Big Slick fun, which begins Thursday night.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
  • Wild Turkey Rare Breed The cask strength classic that pulls no punches This one’s not for the faint of heart, but that’s the fun of it.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diversion. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on diversion

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!