divergent

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divergent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of divergent are different, disparate, diverse, and various. While all these words mean "unlike in kind or character," divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

When would different be a good substitute for divergent?

While the synonyms different and divergent are close in meaning, different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

When might disparate be a better fit than divergent?

The meanings of disparate and divergent largely overlap; however, disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

When is diverse a more appropriate choice than divergent?

The words diverse and divergent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

Where would various be a reasonable alternative to divergent?

The synonyms various and divergent are sometimes interchangeable, but various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

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 divergent The pair of teenage major winners have followed divergent paths since then. Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025 Studies even suggest cannabis can enhance creative thinking by stimulating divergent thought processes (Cannabis and Creativity Study, 2015). Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 Copper miners are likely to see divergent outcomes as U.S. tariffs on the metal loom — raising the potential for a domestic supply crunch while also driving up the U.S. copper price premium over the London Metal Exchange. Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025 Image That likely split screen — Mr. Trump returning to the world’s most powerful job while Mr. Bolsonaro stays home on court orders — will encapsulate the two political doppelgängers’ starkly divergent paths since they were voted out of office and then claimed fraud. Jack Nicas, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divergent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divergent
Adjective
  • What if Piper emerges from the meditation center with entirely different values.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • But that was an almost entirely different team, except for reserve guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Sifting through the sandy dirt of eastern Egypt, archaeologists found an ancient grave filled with distinctive artifacts.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Humans like to put things in distinctive bins, but nature is not so prejudiced.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite sounding the same, the sewing and cooking meanings may have distinct origins but evolved similarly in English.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • This fantasy set-up is the catalyst for a journey of reconnection for mother and father, May and Cody, across a variety of brilliantly distinct levels.
    Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Raising capital is more difficult for diverse entrepreneurs.
    Paul Klein, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • In South Africa’s Cape Town, at No. 4, locals love the coastal city’s diverse food offerings, particularly the seafood.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divergent. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on divergent

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