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

Five days earlier, the Republican lawmaker had proposed to limit payouts from a voucher program that diverts public tax dollars to private education. — Henry Culvyhouse, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2026

Prop 137 diverts money from the state's current sales tax on sporting goods to conservation, wildfire risk mitigation and outdoor recreation programs. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Providing false or misleading information to law enforcement undermines those efforts and unnecessarily diverts officers and resources away from members of our community who may need immediate police assistance. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Instead, your body diverts its limited calories elsewhere, pushing hair follicles into a two- to four-month resting phase before hair eventually sheds. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026

Blocking one chokepoint diverts traffic to others, congesting alternatives. — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

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