Synonyms of diverts

diverts

verb

present tense third-person singular of divert

1

as in amuses

to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied

a light comedy to divert the tired business executive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amuses
• entertains
• regales
• distracts
• occupies
• appeases
• delights
• solaces
• busies
• engrosses
• pleases
• engages
• immerses
• involves
• captivates
• disports
• interests
• enchants
• hypnotizes
• absorbs
• indulges
• bewitches
• fascinates
• mesmerizes
• consoles
• beguiles
• placates
• enthralls
• comforts
• intrigues
• pampers
• gratifies
• soothes
• contents
• charms
• obliges
• coddles
• humors
• spoils
• pacifies
• propitiates
• mollifies
• pleasures
• conciliates
• grips
• mollycoddles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bores
• wears
• drains
• exhausts
• wearies
• wears out
• disturbs
• enervates
• aggravates
• annoys
• perturbs
• bothers
• harasses
• tires
• pesters
• fatigues
• upsets
• exasperates
• irks
• vexes
• piques
• chafes
• jades
• bugs
• grates
• frets
• galls
• harries
• nettles
• peeves

2

as in turns

to change the course or direction of (something)

the bike race was diverted around the construction zone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• turns
• swings
• deflects
• veers
• redirects
• whips
• shifts
• wheels
• moves
• deviates
• averts
• whirls
• swivels
• switches
• shunts
• sidetracks
• reverses
• swerves
• sways
• zigzags
• transfers
• twists
• bends
• rechannels
• turns back
• curves

3

as in distracts

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

• distracts
• detracts
• throws off
• amuses
• entertains
• abstracts
• wanders
• calls off
• strays
• beguiles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• focuses
• concentrates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of diverts

The attempt by former HFPA members to leverage the Golden Globe Foundation, an independent nonprofit, simply to secure Golden Globes tickets is an unfortunate distraction that inappropriately diverts resources from legitimate charitable causes. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 July 2026

An Israeli military official said such violence by Israelis diverts the defense force’s attention from its primary mission of defense and counterterrorism in a complex environment. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026

Her peer on the city payroll diverts up to 9% of every paycheck into funds paying today’s retirees — even though those funds’ ability to pay her own retirement is in doubt. — Stuart Loren, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Where the film diverts from the norm lies in the unique, complicated characters and their weird, tortured even touching relationships. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

That waterway has taken on new significance since the start of the war, as Saudi Arabia now diverts millions of barrels of crude there to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Plata gets into that area and diverts the ball past Neuer to seal Ecuador’s place in the knockout phase. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026

De-extinction, in this line of thought, diverts vital resources from these more important conservation efforts. — Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026

Reuters reported in July 2025 that independent publishers filed an EU antitrust complaint against Google’s AI Overviews, arguing that the feature diverts traffic and revenue. — Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026