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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2026
Supergirl the film, meanwhile, is only a mildly diverting whiff.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
That includes sweeping hundreds of millions of dollars out of special taxing districts, borrowing to pay for legal settlements and retroactive pay bumps, and diverting pandemic relief money away from programs and toward payroll instead.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
This issue is now exacerbated by AI's voracious demand for memory, diverting supply from consumer electronics due to higher profitability.
—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The star of this hair oil is Alpha Keratin 60ku, Virtue’s proprietary protein that functions as a train conductor directing and diverting repair to split ends, weak strands, and fragile follicles.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
23 June 2026
In 1839, 53 captive Mende people taken from Sierra Leone revolted aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad, diverting the ship from its original destination of Cuba toward the Northeast.
—
Calista Oetama,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2026
In a social media post Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Police Department wrote that bags that don’t meet the event’s clear bag policy were diverting law enforcement resources, as those bags have to be thoroughly inspected.
—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
The California Highway Patrol temporarily shut down all westbound lanes of the freeway, diverting traffic onto Irwindale Avenue, before opening up one lane.
—
Laurence Darmiento
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 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
Unfortunately, while there are presumably less diverting ways to spend close to two hours in a stuffy, packed multiplex, the movie is a preachy, one-note affair.
—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2026
Supergirl the film, meanwhile, is only a mildly diverting whiff.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
That includes sweeping hundreds of millions of dollars out of special taxing districts, borrowing to pay for legal settlements and retroactive pay bumps, and diverting pandemic relief money away from programs and toward payroll instead.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
This issue is now exacerbated by AI's voracious demand for memory, diverting supply from consumer electronics due to higher profitability.
—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The star of this hair oil is Alpha Keratin 60ku, Virtue’s proprietary protein that functions as a train conductor directing and diverting repair to split ends, weak strands, and fragile follicles.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
23 June 2026
In 1839, 53 captive Mende people taken from Sierra Leone revolted aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad, diverting the ship from its original destination of Cuba toward the Northeast.
—
Calista Oetama,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2026
In a social media post Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Police Department wrote that bags that don’t meet the event’s clear bag policy were diverting law enforcement resources, as those bags have to be thoroughly inspected.
—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
The California Highway Patrol temporarily shut down all westbound lanes of the freeway, diverting traffic onto Irwindale Avenue, before opening up one lane.
—
Laurence Darmiento
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverting
Adjective
-
The closest the visually drab movie comes to excitement is the introduction of an amusing if underused Jason Momoa as Lobo, an immortal bounty hunter who looks like a heavy-metal god (or maybe a lost member of Kiss), chomping on a fat cigar and roaring around on his flying motorcycle.
-
Mighty Real includes an amusing anecdote about trying to finagle an interview with New Order’s Bernard Sumner in the early ’80s when bassist Peter Hook busts in and shows you his uncut willie.
Verb
-
Serving trays for entertaining over $50 This classy Mother of Pearl serving tray is made to order with custom sizing and trim.
-
From neighborhood potlucks to fireworks watch parties, Sam's Club is rolling out plenty of festive finds to help make Fourth of July entertaining easier and more fun.
Verb
-
People in their 20s and 30s are pulling chess sets, backgammon boards and mahjong tiles out of closets and grandparents’ attics, turning them into the centerpiece of their social lives.
-
While Svoboda is at least another year away from turning pro, Halttunen might be ready to make his NHL debut sometime during the 2026-27 season.
Verb
-
However, there was a distracting graphical issue where characters and objects would get weird glowy or black artifacts around the edges in close-up shots during battles and cutscenes.
-
People attending the trial would also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing, or otherwise disrupting proceedings.
Adjective
-
The electric blue shade adds such a fun pop of color to a summer wardrobe, instantly brightening up basics like white jeans, denim shorts, or neutral trousers.
-
Gemini May 21 – June 20 A fun idea may need a clearer price tag.
Verb
-
One morning earlier this week, Thomas Lupo, the president and CEO of the American Wood Column Corporation, was in his office regaling two young entrepreneurs with tales of his 110-year-old family business.
-
His mind was as sharp as a tack, again regaling us with amazing hockey stories.
Verb
-
Policymakers have concluded that universities must respond more quickly to labor market demands by redirecting students toward sectors expected to experience sustained growth.
-
Haaland slammed home Norway’s second then doubled up, redirecting a cross past Mendy.
Adjective
-
Fresh-tasting ice makes every sip more enjoyable, so identifying and fixing the issue is worth the effort.
-
One of the things that was also enjoyable is being able to talk about modern things in a historical context, even with that phone.
Cite this Entry
“Diverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverting. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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