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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of diverting
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
30 June 2026
Fable mitigates this by diverting sensitive requests to less powerful models.
—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
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
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
Verb
Closing the Manhattan Bridge, diverting traffic, and managing the safety of staging a zombie apocalypse downtown required the cooperation and manpower of multiple agencies with their own sets of pressing priorities and responsibilities.
—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
30 June 2026
Fable mitigates this by diverting sensitive requests to less powerful models.
—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverting
Adjective
-
Cavill, absent from the proceedings for long stretches, remains a sturdy presence as the most buff screen Sherlock ever, while Helena Bonham Carter is again reliably amusing as Enola and Sherlock’s sardonic mother Eudoria.
-
Elmosnino is an amusing villain, making his most self-serving machinations sound reasonable.
Verb
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However, incorporating the latest luxury pool design trends can take backyard entertaining to another level.
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And frankly, returning viewers as well, since the Enola Holmes films, while entertaining enough, don’t exactly linger in the memory.
Verb
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Given modern advances, many organizations are turning towards auto-triaging by AI services and other digital tools to help ease the burden for physicians.
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Then he got caught up in the race to perform at certain festivals and venues, turning his career into a checklist.
Verb
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Driving into the estate down a dirt track, you’re met with concrete walls that frame the space with gallery-like precision, directing your eyes toward geological features rather than distracting from them.
-
There was some online angst over whether Swift was distracting from football — while the NFL itself capitalized on her fandom.
Adjective
-
The camp blends fun dance instruction with bold characters, exciting music and imaginative storytelling.
-
Newer spaces like Salted Melon, The Craic and Laurel Park offer fresh takes with a relaxed feel and fun patio spaces, while mainstays like Rhino Market and Arthur’s fill up with longtime fans.
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.
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His mind was as sharp as a tack, again regaling us with amazing hockey stories.
Verb
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Their system screens bookings based on factors like listing type, duration, and guest location, redirecting potential party-goers.
-
If the fund ultimately moves forward, California’s law would impose a 100% state tax on payments made to California recipients, effectively redirecting the money to state funds.
Adjective
-
More of us are rediscovering the appeal of doing things the harder (though usually more enjoyable) way.
-
Choosing snacks that are both healthy and appealing to kids can make snack time easier and more enjoyable.
Cite this Entry
“Diverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverting. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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