Synonyms of amuse

amuse

verb

ə-ˈmyüz 

as in to entertain

to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied

the older girl amused her four-year-old sister at the family reunion by showing her off to all the relatives

Synonyms & Similar Words

• entertain
• regale
• distract
• delight
• appease
• divert
• occupy
• solace
• please
• busy
• engross
• enchant
• interest
• captivate
• engage
• fascinate
• involve
• console
• charm
• enthral
• disport
• comfort
• beguile
• immerse
• enthrall
• intrigue
• bewitch
• gratify
• hypnotize
• placate
• spoil
• humor
• soothe
• mesmerize
• pleasure
• indulge
• pamper
• pacify
• absorb
• mollify
• coddle
• oblige
• content
• propitiate
• conciliate
• grip
• mollycoddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bore
• weary
• wear
• drain
• annoy
• exhaust
• wear out
• aggravate
• harass
• tire
• bother
• fatigue
• disturb
• exasperate
• upset
• vex
• jade
• irk
• enervate
• perturb
• pester
• bug
• pique
• fret
• harry
• grate
• chafe
• gall
• peeve
• nettle

Synonym Chooser

How is the word amuse different from other verbs like it?

The words divert and entertain are common synonyms of amuse. While all three words mean "to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly," amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

When might divert be a better fit than amuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to amuse, divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

Where would entertain be a reasonable alternative to amuse?

The words entertain and amuse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of amuse

They’re partly amused by his determination to film their gatherings, but respectful, too, of their role in what amounts to a healing process, bringing a shared ending to what began as a project just about his mother. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025

Pictured below, Italian fashion editor and writer and sharp dresser Anna Della Russo took the all-black memo in a different, more officers’ mess-jacket/killer-matador direction that, though witty, doesn’t seem to have been done to amuse anybody. —Guy Martin, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

After asking him to repeat his request, Scott, amused but also now genuinely curious, inquired as to why, exactly, Thomas wanted one gigantic truck tire. —Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

While such sight gags amuse, the movie is so wedded to its genre that no part of it seems rooted in reality. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025