1
as in to amuse
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
a light comedy to divert the tired business executive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to turn
to change the course or direction of (something)
the bike race was diverted around the construction zone
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of divert
That type of financing essentially diverts the growth in taxes that comes after redevelopment so it can be invested in ways that support the project.
—
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Sandlin added that streets are designed to handle floodwater and divert it, almost like a drain.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
According to local outlet The Daily Herald, a Delta Airlines and JetBlue flight were forced to divert to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And diverting and redirecting waste from landfills, whether through recycling or reusing, boosts crew morale on film sets.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Sandlin added that streets are designed to handle floodwater and divert it, almost like a drain.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
According to local outlet The Daily Herald, a Delta Airlines and JetBlue flight were forced to divert to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And diverting and redirecting waste from landfills, whether through recycling or reusing, boosts crew morale on film sets.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divert
Verb
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TikTok users were quick to react to the unexpected footage, with many amused by the cat's calm and independent demeanor.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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Garfield was visibly amused and turned in his seat, physically and metaphorically giving his costars the floor to answer, while Roberts and Edebiri gave Polidoro confused glances.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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He was arrested following a 33-hour manhunt after his parents recognized surveillance images of the suspect released by police and convinced him, with the help of a family friend, to turn himself in.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
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Also, the tensions between Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Iyo could result in the latter turning heel on Vaquer during or after the match for the vacant WWE Women’s World Championship.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But one way to distract and soothe your temperamental toddler might be through music.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
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Molina, who is fascinated by silver screen legend Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez), distracts himself and Valentín with a recounting of his favorite film of hers — The Kiss of the Spider Woman.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Lecornu has run into some controversy in the past for entertaining far-right leader Marine Le Pen at a secret dinner to discuss Ukraine last year.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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Alongside the rise of YouTube Golf, a number of entertaining golf podcasts now exist — so this threesome has their work cut out for them.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That kind of dexterity is apparent in the footwork, one of those features that can swing matches when the going gets tough.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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After the Blue Jays swung a trade to bring in Shane Bieber at this season's deadline, Edward Eng of FanSided's Jays Journal predicted the team would turn to him as a long-term replacement while letting Max Scherzer walk this winter.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Like his Washington, Bargatze’s Farnsworth regaled a trio of underlings (SNL cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson) with ridiculous yet accurate predictions for the future, in this case of TV.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
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Her mother, an enslaved woman whose name is lost to history, had been a storyteller, too, regaling the girl with folktales on the Maryland plantation where she was born in the mid-nineteenth century.—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This can be a pre-emptive measure to deflect criticism of the relationship.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Tart remained in the game and came up with two big plays, deflecting a pair of passes by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes — including one on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game 20-20.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Regardless of a user’s age, the company says its chatbots will attempt to redirect the most distressing conversations to more capable AI models that can provide a better response.—
Barbara Ortutay,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
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Efforts are being redirected towards alternatives that are a healthy blend of traditional and modern medicine, with a special focus on an individual’s body and its reaction to treatment.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Divert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divert. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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