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
While that’s almost enough water to supply all of the state’s residents for about two years, most of it is diverted to farms.
—
Calmatters, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
In the fall of 2018, the river will be diverted into Farmer’s Union Canal, and work will begin north of the Garden City-to-Boise footbridge and the existing Wave Shaper to build another Wave Shaper and two more in-river water features.
—Dana Oland, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2025
There is only enunciating, as paragraphs of narrative are diverted into rushing mouthfuls of unintelligible high-speed monologue.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
As a major hub for long-haul flights operated by wide-body aircraft, these planes can only be diverted to large airports capable of handling their size and requirements.
—Guglielmo Lulli, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Calmatters, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
In the fall of 2018, the river will be diverted into Farmer’s Union Canal, and work will begin north of the Garden City-to-Boise footbridge and the existing Wave Shaper to build another Wave Shaper and two more in-river water features.
—Dana Oland, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2025
There is only enunciating, as paragraphs of narrative are diverted into rushing mouthfuls of unintelligible high-speed monologue.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
As a major hub for long-haul flights operated by wide-body aircraft, these planes can only be diverted to large airports capable of handling their size and requirements.
—Guglielmo Lulli, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divert
Verb
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An English bulldog has developed an unusual nightly habit that continues to amuse her human family.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
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Ali grew up in college gyms and on bus rides, the son of volleyball royalty who amused himself by drawing plays in the sand.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Roast Salmon With Citrus and Coconut-Chile Crunch Crispy, toasty, and spicy, this quick coconut-chile crunch topping turns a simple salad into a whole lot of fun.—
Hali Bey Ramdene,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Mar. 2025
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The pair was involved in a heated altercation that reportedly turned physical before paramedics arrived on the scene, according to TMZ.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Europe is distracted by Mr. Trump’s trade war, and Mr. Netanyahu has consolidated his coalition’s majority in Israel’s Parliament, giving him more political space to act.—
Michael D. Shear,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Don't be distracted by extra information (whether visual, computational, or otherwise).—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Families are very much the focus here, and the resort offers a wealth of activities to keep younger guests entertained (see: the indoor kids’ club and playground with multi-story slides, and the dedicated kids’ pool with water slides.—
Nicole Trilivas,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The film is mass at its core and magical in its storytelling, crafted to move and entertain audiences worldwide.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With Orlando trailing by 2 points less than a minute into the fourth quarter at Spectrum Center following a disastrous third, Hornets guard LaMelo Ball looked to swing the ball to Nick Smith Jr. waiting in the corner.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2025
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Still no timetable on anything, but he’s been able to swing the bat and feel like there’s been some steady improvement day after day.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kreeger’s background Born an only child in New York City, Kreeger regaled guests with his stories bridging his work in the legal and musical communities.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
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Since Perry's passing in October 2023, Kudrow and her castmates have been regaling fans with stories of their beloved friend and costar.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After losing a one-goal lead late in the third period, Marco Rossi deflected a feed from Mats Zuccarello past Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger on a 4-on-3 man advantage in overtime to beat the Stars 3-2 at Xcel Energy Center.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
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Morel deflects the attention and prefers to be part of a larger collective.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Supporting others in tangible ways - like volunteering, donating, or organizing - can help redirect anxiety into collective empowerment.—
Nicole Lipkin,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
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The severity of the symptoms of arterial thrombosis in the leg varies, depending on which artery is affected, the time course of the artery blockage (sudden versus gradual), and whether the body can redirect blood flow through other arteries.—
Alicen Nelson MD,
Verywell Health,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Divert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divert. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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