as in amusing
providing amusement or enjoyment
some tall and diverting tales were told by the festival's roving storyteller
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 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
Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Twenty-six percent of HR time is consumed by leave management activities, diverting critical resources from strategic initiatives.
—Anant Agarwal, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Taliban was and still is adept at infiltrating aid organizations and diverting aid to fill their coffers.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, local politicians have worried diverting resources could leave their district understaffed.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Researchers think long runs may stress the gut—diverting blood flow and affecting bacteria—but more studies are needed.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
The person who takes DeSantis’ place will decide the fate of his legacy policies, including the Hope Florida program, which is related to the charity under scrutiny and is intended to get Floridians off government aid largely by diverting low-income residents to churches.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
He is also accused of diverting $970,263 in investor funds to an entity set up to make a film about Patty Hearst and her kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army – a project that did not come to fruition.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Many news publishers, however, worry that the rise of AI search engines such as Perplexity could pose an existential threat to the industry, diverting audiences away from their websites and undermining their advertising and subscription models.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
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
But the rail authority has argued that, in the long-term, a train system would save money by diverting travelers away from roads and airports.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Twenty-six percent of HR time is consumed by leave management activities, diverting critical resources from strategic initiatives.
—Anant Agarwal, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Taliban was and still is adept at infiltrating aid organizations and diverting aid to fill their coffers.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, local politicians have worried diverting resources could leave their district understaffed.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Researchers think long runs may stress the gut—diverting blood flow and affecting bacteria—but more studies are needed.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
The person who takes DeSantis’ place will decide the fate of his legacy policies, including the Hope Florida program, which is related to the charity under scrutiny and is intended to get Floridians off government aid largely by diverting low-income residents to churches.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
He is also accused of diverting $970,263 in investor funds to an entity set up to make a film about Patty Hearst and her kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army – a project that did not come to fruition.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Many news publishers, however, worry that the rise of AI search engines such as Perplexity could pose an existential threat to the industry, diverting audiences away from their websites and undermining their advertising and subscription models.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverting
Adjective
-
Fletcher and Jolly win audience love here, and Allen’s naked ambition to become sheriff is quite amusing.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This is amusing but understandable; in an era where commodity fetishism has turned analog, low-budget cinema into something aspirational, Jenkin has made no compromises for accessibility.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ripe figs are the star of this sophisticated salad, perfect for entertaining guests.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Apart from one shocking death (when Tranter switches from neutralizing bombs up close to eliminating threats with his long-range rifle), the action is entertaining enough in the moment, but not especially memorable.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Part sports-underdog biopic, part domestic-abuse-survivor’s tale, and a textbook example of why turning a true story into tony entertainment is a real tightrope walk, this drama has extremely recognizable beats.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The other two possessions ended in a Jenkins interception and FIU turning the ball over on downs.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This combination lends itself to transitions from focus to out of focus and background blur (bokeh) that's smooth and free of distracting elements.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In class, Danny continues to be disorderly, challenging Maria’s authority, throwing stuff when angry, completely distracting and even frightening the other students.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Manning says the most fun part of filming the funny video was getting to sport some facial hair.—
Erin Clements,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Would parity be more fun than the usual suspects dominating the high school football landscape every year?—
Cecil Joyce,
The Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The 21-time PGA Tour winner engaged a small group on a practice green, going over technique, drills and flatstick psychology while also regaling them with stories about golf greats—like how keeping an eye on the hole helped Beth Daniel transform her putting game.—
Mike Dojc,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
On the way back to her workstation after the 0830 all clear, Masako indulged this innocent conceit by regaling some of her Kenjo coworkers with a claim about her father’s apparently magical ability to protect himself and his family from American bombs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Slicing against the grain breaks up these fibers into smaller pieces, giving the steak a more tender, enjoyable texture.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Built around an all-in performance by Tedeschi, who repeatedly seems on the brink of going full Nicolas Cage but always pulls back at the last moment, Duse is an enjoyable but somewhat opaque take on an enigmatic Italian legend.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Milwaukee mother who claimed her stepfather threw her baby from a balcony has now been charged with child abuse herself, accused of whipping her younger brothers.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Olbinski ran to his car, while others hunkered down and braved the brutal winds and whipping sand.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Diverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverting. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share