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
Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 30 Jan. 2026
For many animals, making offspring means eating more, moving less and/or diverting energy away from growth and survival.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
In a lawsuit that’s pending in Delaware, Musk has been accused of violating his fiduciary duty to Tesla shareholders by diverting the automaker’s resources to xAI.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Under the bill, diverting settlement money offered to the state to a third party would be expressly prohibited.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
The land is surrounded by water, with the Boise River on one side and a stream diverting from the river running along the other.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
On the West Coast, San Francisco and Los Angeles are diverting about 80% of their waste away from landfills.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
Instead, the state has wasted money on projects like the high-speed rail boondoggle, which is years behind schedule and tens of billions over budget, diverting important infrastructure resources.
—Baruch Feigenbaum, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
Along the way, the practical trio try to go a different route, diverting everyone’s attention to the endangered species of the region, like Wilson’s phalarope whose survival depends on the Great Salt Lake’s permanence.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 22 Jan. 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
States have also faced pressure from those who believe support of this program could inhibit public schools by diverting funds.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 30 Jan. 2026
For many animals, making offspring means eating more, moving less and/or diverting energy away from growth and survival.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
In a lawsuit that’s pending in Delaware, Musk has been accused of violating his fiduciary duty to Tesla shareholders by diverting the automaker’s resources to xAI.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Under the bill, diverting settlement money offered to the state to a third party would be expressly prohibited.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
The land is surrounded by water, with the Boise River on one side and a stream diverting from the river running along the other.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
On the West Coast, San Francisco and Los Angeles are diverting about 80% of their waste away from landfills.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
Instead, the state has wasted money on projects like the high-speed rail boondoggle, which is years behind schedule and tens of billions over budget, diverting important infrastructure resources.
—Baruch Feigenbaum, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
Along the way, the practical trio try to go a different route, diverting everyone’s attention to the endangered species of the region, like Wilson’s phalarope whose survival depends on the Great Salt Lake’s permanence.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverting
Adjective
-
The mainframe cycle has returned, which is both remarkable and somewhat amusing in 2026.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Danish star Bang seems to having a grand time playing the I-want-it-all villain of the piece and is amusing to watch.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Speaking of stepping out, the Garrison Club at Whistler Square offers everything residents need from pampering to entertaining without having to step foot out of the Chelsea Barracks community.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Vince Young Steakhouse, a staple of downtown Austin’s dining scene for 15 years, closed its doors Sunday, ending its run as a go-to spot for business dinners, entertaining out-of-town guests and milestone celebrations.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
All lighting on the Chief Vintage is LED, and the adaptive headlight can peek into corners while turning.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Google is rolling out major updates to Gemini in Chrome, turning the browser into an AI-powered assistant designed to help users multitask, browse faster, and complete complex online tasks with less effort.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
It’s been only about three weeks since Trump toppled Maduro, and already a long line of other flashpoints — from immigration enforcement to Greenland — are distracting attention from what his administration is doing in Caracas.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The whole idea is to choose something that isn't too distracting.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the first clip, Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly discusses the accusations, made by many MLB fans, that his team’s spending has made the sport less competitive, less fun and less fair.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Holidaying with kids is fun but no one would call it restful.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The teaser begins by regaling the audience with all the ways the original Pump Rulers entertained us through the years.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
-
His father, a veteran of World War II, was a burial vault salesman and would often take Fitzpatrick with him on business trips, regaling him with tales of the city.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This mild, enjoyable weather arrives in parallel with outdoor events like Dallas Blooms and Autumn at the Arboretum.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Having the right tools and appliances can make cooking, cleaning, and storage in the kitchen so much easier and enjoyable.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Microsoft is redirecting engineers to urgently fix Windows 11’s performance and reliability issues, aiming to halt the operating system’s death by a thousand cuts.—
Tom Warren,
The Verge,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The company's model allows organizations to extend, protect, and enhance functioning systems without mandatory upgrades, redirecting savings toward strategic priorities rather than following a vendor's timeline.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Diverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverting. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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