diversion

noun

də-ˈvər-zhən How to pronounce diversion (audio)
Definition of diversionnext
1
as in entertainment
someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment a scavenger hunt was organized as a diversion for the guests at the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 Chip Security Act would strengthen mechanisms for tracking advanced chips and detecting diversion. — Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026 This was a pleasant diversion from monitoring the news and worrying about getting torn from her toddler. — Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026 At least seven passenger flights were targeted the following day, which led to emergency landings, searches, and diversions. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 7 Nov. 2026 Attorney Vishad Dewan, who also represented Jacobo, argued in a diversion motion that after Illian failed to yield to traffic signals while riding an e-bike, Ingco attempted to pull him over, but Illian fled. — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for diversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diversion
  1. entertainment
  2. amusement
  3. deviation
  4. recreation
  5. departure
  6. delight
  7. detour
  8. fun
Noun
  • The jokes have spread across X, Reddit and other platforms, turning a corporate leadership crisis with potentially serious national security implications into a seemingly endless supply of entertainment.
    — Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2026
  • Activities and entertainment Entertainment onboard is old-school.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2026
Definition of entertainment
Noun
  • Stewart concluded by joking that his final act of objetophilia had taken place in the very theater where the gala was being held, much to the audience’s dismay and amusement.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Family members of patients and others with ties to Eloise have argued against offering for-profit amusement at a site where vulnerable people suffered.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of amusement
Noun
  • Now, four years later, their deviations are the most deliberate and transcendent parts of their music.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Shrunken atoms might allow researchers to pick up on wholly new physics, such as deviations from Newtonian gravity or the existence of particles beyond the Standard Model.
    — George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of deviation
Noun
  • Just 6% of Miami’s land is used for parks and recreation, nonprofit Trust for Public Land reported in May.
    — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The tears first fell when the Métiers d’Art prize went to a sapphire-laden Vacheron Constantin pocket watch from 1930 featuring an enamel recreation of the crest of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia.
    — Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of recreation
Noun
  • His departure has shaken one of the world's most valuable companies, triggered congressional scrutiny and raised questions about the future of America's AI industry.
    — Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The last Boise departure before the ground stop was activated was recorded by online flight tracker Flight Aware.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 Nov. 2026
Definition of departure
Noun
  • Regardless, the movie’s litany of fantastical demons, and its anthropomorphic animal heroes, remain an audiovisual delight.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2026
  • But boy, does the audience shiver with delight watching Ghidorah stomp buildings to rubble while the sound design rattles our seats.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of delight
Noun
  • The band’s sound—grounded in the driving, elaborate guitar interplay between Verlaine and Lloyd—was a sharp detour from their contemporaries’ three-chord melodies.
    — Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Caltrans conducted local road improvements on the project’s detour routes, including the resurfacing and striping of roads and intersections, installing traffic cameras and placing temporary traffic signals.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of detour
Noun
  • For another fun twist on ice-queen glam, take a cue from Zara Larsson and pile on the shimmery silver-white shadow accented with rhinestones in lieu of snowflakes, or perhaps a fresh platinum blonde hair color à la Serena Williams.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But even the hardest-to-please folks are usually thrilled with a techy gift that makes their life easier, more convenient or just more fun.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fun

Browse Nearby Words

diverseness
diversion
diversions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diversion. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lissome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All