Definition of divestnext
1
as in to evict
to end the occupancy or possession of unable to make their mortgage payments, they were summarily divested of their house

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2
3
as in to deprive
to take something away from he was divested of the boxing title when the fraud was uncovered

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of divest In 2024, California’s Legislature considered a bill seeking to force CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from fossil fuel companies by 2031. Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026 For Unilever, divesting much of its food business allows the company to focus on its personal-care segment, which is growing faster. Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026 The recusal motion is linked to a high-profile felony vandalism case stemming from a June 2024 demonstration in which protesters briefly occupied Stanford University’s executive offices, calling on the school to divest from companies linked to Israel over the war in Gaza. Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026 Never mind that Run Gen Z’s parent organization, the American Legislative Exchange Council, is responsible for, among other things, drafting bills that would punish financial institutions and other companies for divesting from the fossil-fuel industry. Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for divest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divest
Verb
  • Unable to pay rent in jail, he got evicted.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Just months ago, Abandoned Pet Rescue and other local animal shelters had to rescue 20 chihuahuas from a hoarding situation in which the dogs’ owner was about to be evicted from her home.
    Amanda Rosa April 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The judge ruled that at this early stage in the case, Day made a viable claim that Evans had planned to permanently deprive her of the money.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Bondi cut off the American Bar Association’s access to judicial nominees for the first time in 72 years, depriving the Senate of an independent opinion on their qualifications.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The growth of colonial Australian society came at the expense of the Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who were often dispossessed of their land, exposed to foreign diseases, and either pushed into marginal areas or forcibly assimilated into European culture.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • As Morocco’s indigenous inhabitants, El Hammoumy continued, the Berbers are like other native peoples around the world who have been systematically dispossessed of their lands and heritage for centuries.
    Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Support and soothe sore fingers to relieve swelling and pain with gentle compression.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The actors bowed, looking relieved.
    Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In 2024, the government announced that several serving and former Australian military commanders had been stripped of medals over allegations of war crimes committed in Afghanistan.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Three Steps, No More Cleanser A gentle face wash removes oil and sweat from overnight without stripping your skin.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Kozakiewicz, who was ousted from her role last year, said in a recent interview that the goal of the audit was to determine whether The Star was biased in its coverage of Lucas’ administration.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
  • There was viewer backlash when her predecessor Curry — a longtime fan favorite — was ousted from the program.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Divest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divest. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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