as in amusing
providing amusement or enjoyment
some tall and diverting tales were told by the festival's roving storyteller
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in entertaining
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
a light comedy to divert the tired business executive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turning
to change the course or direction of (something)
the bike race was diverted around the construction zone
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in distracting
to draw the attention or mind to something else
trying to divert the child with a toy while the doctor was giving her a shot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of diverting
BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2021
The plan also would call for constant testing of players and staff, which could mean diverting resources from public health care.
—Nick Piecoro, azcentral, 6 Apr. 2020
Judging by comments on social media, many of those who tuned in found Mr. Bone to be the most diverting thing about the debate.
—Jonah Engel Bromwich, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2016
Per The New York Times: Judging by comments on social media, many of those who tuned in found Mr. Bone to be the most diverting thing about the debate.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 10 Oct. 2016
Both popular and science media show an outsized fondness for brain imaging studies, inspiring much work more diverting than informative.
—David Dobbs, WIRED, 4 July 2006
Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 5 June 2026
Concurrently, the Met botch their way through their investigation, diverting all their attention to an entirely innocent man while ignoring the serial offender under their nose.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
Silver Whisper responded to authorities’ request for assistance, diverting 120 miles from its intended course.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 1 June 2026
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has also vowed to prevent LA28 from diverting money to a Legacy Fund before reimbursing Los Angeles for all expenses.
—The Editorial Board, Daily News, 28 May 2026
The show’s studio, 20th Television Animation, kept the annual output relatively steady, diverting the surplus episodes to its streaming platforms.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 May 2026
This uncertainty leads employees to replay interactions and guess at approval or concern, diverting energy from actual work.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Including Brown in a deal for Antetokounmpo — either sending him to Milwaukee or diverting him to a third team like Atlanta, Houston or Portland — would be the most likely way to make that blockbuster deal work from a salary perspective.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
Shaw did not provide evidence to back up her claim about how the state is diverting education dollars.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 25 May 2026
Adjective
But you were also treated to a diverting and delightful narrative, rich with insider’s lore.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2021
The plan also would call for constant testing of players and staff, which could mean diverting resources from public health care.
—Nick Piecoro, azcentral, 6 Apr. 2020
Judging by comments on social media, many of those who tuned in found Mr. Bone to be the most diverting thing about the debate.
—Jonah Engel Bromwich, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2016
Per The New York Times: Judging by comments on social media, many of those who tuned in found Mr. Bone to be the most diverting thing about the debate.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 10 Oct. 2016
Both popular and science media show an outsized fondness for brain imaging studies, inspiring much work more diverting than informative.
—David Dobbs, WIRED, 4 July 2006
Verb
Creating parallel capabilities overseas risks duplicating existing infrastructure while diverting attention and resources from the interventions most likely to bring the outbreak under control.
—Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 5 June 2026
Concurrently, the Met botch their way through their investigation, diverting all their attention to an entirely innocent man while ignoring the serial offender under their nose.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
Silver Whisper responded to authorities’ request for assistance, diverting 120 miles from its intended course.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 1 June 2026
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has also vowed to prevent LA28 from diverting money to a Legacy Fund before reimbursing Los Angeles for all expenses.
—The Editorial Board, Daily News, 28 May 2026
The show’s studio, 20th Television Animation, kept the annual output relatively steady, diverting the surplus episodes to its streaming platforms.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 May 2026
This uncertainty leads employees to replay interactions and guess at approval or concern, diverting energy from actual work.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Including Brown in a deal for Antetokounmpo — either sending him to Milwaukee or diverting him to a third team like Atlanta, Houston or Portland — would be the most likely way to make that blockbuster deal work from a salary perspective.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
Shaw did not provide evidence to back up her claim about how the state is diverting education dollars.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverting
Adjective
-
The meta-ness of mentioning Sebold’s novel is amusing for those who recognize that connection.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
-
Fairies and gods and shipwrecks all conspire to put our players in the most exigent but also the most amusing circumstances.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
For families The Sagamore excels at entertaining every member of a family.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
The beach club also acts as a social hub, with a bar and folding side terraces for entertaining right on the water.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Now, the soon-to-be junior and 2024 Team USA Olympic alternate has plans of turning UGA gymnastics into a superpower, drawing enthusiasm similar to the school’s most prominent sport.—
Hunter DeLauder,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
-
The company specializes in repurposing old baseball gloves and turning them into one-of-a-kind leather products, particularly wallets, billfolds, card cases and money clips.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
People who attend the trial will also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing or otherwise disrupting the proceedings.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
If anything, Horvath writes, ed tech broke American schools by pitching distracting multimedia to boost learning.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
The breakfast buffet at the hotel’s sit-down restaurant, Ave, offers an incredible spread with fun additions like Caribbean classic breadfruit and saltfish.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Wood toilet seats are back in style, as are fun vintage pastels.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Telling his fellow actors about this, Powell came off a bit like a war veteran regaling his fellow servicemembers with a particularly harrowing story.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
-
The movie ends with Johnny regaling Baraka with tales of his heroism.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Big Brother 6 What makes season 6 so enjoyable is not just the introduction of two legends in Janelle and Kaysar, in addition to a bevy of other big personalities.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
Those investments have included a focus on retail fundamentals, like ensuring stores have enough staff, are enjoyable to spend time in and are stocked with items people actually want to buy.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Arab producers are drawing their own conclusions, redirecting supply chains away from Gulf chokepoints and investing in rail corridors linking inland production facilities to ports far removed from the current theater of conflict.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
For the millions of shoppers who have been redirecting their dollars away from corporate giants and toward small and local businesses, the May 4 announcement isn’t a logistics story at all.—
Patrick van Esch,
The Conversation,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Diverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverting. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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