1
as in to amuse
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
a light comedy to divert the tired business executive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to turn
to change the course or direction of (something)
the bike race was diverted around the construction zone
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of divert
The allegation is the men took money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that was to be used to improve subsidized housing complexes and illegally diverted it for other purposes.
—
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025
Timothée Chalamet Does Awards Season a Little Differently Feb. 26, 2025
Leading up to the release of his film in December, through the months that followed on the awards trail, Chalamet has waged a viral campaign that diverted from the old, staid ways of Hollywood promotion.
—Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The day before that, an American Airlines flight traveling from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome after a bomb threat was made against the aircraft.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2025
Five passengers were hospitalized after a United Airlines regional flight encountered turbulence and diverted to Waco, Texas, on Sunday.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025
Timothée Chalamet Does Awards Season a Little Differently Feb. 26, 2025
Leading up to the release of his film in December, through the months that followed on the awards trail, Chalamet has waged a viral campaign that diverted from the old, staid ways of Hollywood promotion.
—Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The day before that, an American Airlines flight traveling from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome after a bomb threat was made against the aircraft.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2025
Five passengers were hospitalized after a United Airlines regional flight encountered turbulence and diverted to Waco, Texas, on Sunday.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divert
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Her writing turned into role-playing in forums, and Twilight fandom gave way to a love of video games like Mass Effect.—
Megan Farokhmanesh,
WIRED,
18 Mar. 2025
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Having started her career as a soprano, Hannigan turned her hand to conducting at age 40 at the Châtelet in Paris.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That means having a high-quality microphone and video camera so others aren’t distracted by your technology. 8.—
Joseph Liu,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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Investors looking to distract themselves with a drink might, in fact, feel even more pain.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Carter gave up smoking and took up swimming and—a basis for a musical, perhaps—entertained Bette Midler and her husband.—
Nathan Heller,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
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At Willows, California, she was entertained at a local duck club and invited to go along on a duck shoot.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Wilmore swung open the space station’s hatch and then rang the ship’s bell as the new arrivals floated in one by one and were greeted with hugs and handshakes.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2025
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Brianna seems to swing between two moods: intense enthusiasm, intense repugnance.—
Joyce Carol Oates,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Brody worked the room like an architect with a plan, getting animated in a discussion with Board of Governors member Rita Wilson and then regaling SAG Award orator Jane Fonda at the bar.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
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One hundred years from now — if artificial intelligence hasn’t put journalists out of work — a future writer might regale us with the story of the next Cecile Steele.—
Kenny Torrella,
Vox,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Middle East crisis — explained The report sparked a retort from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has deflected personal responsibility in the security failure.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
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Now Moore is proactively blaming President Donald Trump, grasping at straws to deflect the blame.—
John Teichert,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump has argued the executive branch has leeway to cut or redirect spending to save money or make government more efficient.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
15 Mar. 2025
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Work crews began tearing up surface pavement and redirecting traffic in late February; Fort Worth expects the construction to last until next spring.—
Jaime Moore-Carrillo,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Divert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divert. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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