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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of divert
And, keeping the STAR bond district out in west KCK, around where the stadium will be built, would prevent local sales taxes generated on the county’s east side, for example, from diverting toward the project.
—
Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
More funds would continue to be diverted to maintaining borrowing—something Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio often complains about.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
For example, according to the report diverting 10 percent of textiles to reuse could support about 1,000 green jobs, while 24 percent could create 2,500.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Instead, the funds are being used to produce a narrative that diverts attention from a major public health issue and discourages the press from covering it.
—Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for divert
Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
More funds would continue to be diverted to maintaining borrowing—something Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio often complains about.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
For example, according to the report diverting 10 percent of textiles to reuse could support about 1,000 green jobs, while 24 percent could create 2,500.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Instead, the funds are being used to produce a narrative that diverts attention from a major public health issue and discourages the press from covering it.
—Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for divert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divert
Verb
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Trump’s frenetic social media activity is also aimed more at titillating his hardcore online supporters (and, again, amusing himself) than persuading swing voters.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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In short, Altman may say he was amused by Anthropic’s latest slight, but given his heated rhetoric, the gloves are starting to come off.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Will this race and the other changes create an opportunity for NASCAR to turn the page on its difficult 2025?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The new food pyramid has turned things upside down.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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They were seen by the clergy, for example, to be distracted by chocolate, drinking it and gossiping instead of paying attention to mass.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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State transportation officials argued that street art is distracting and can pose a risk to drivers.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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View Outside’s longstanding literary storytelling tradition comes to life in audio with features that will both entertain and inform listeners.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Within seconds, Perez smacked a cellphone out of the man's hand, swung at his head and tackled him to the ground.—
Sheridan Hendrix,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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Over the past decade, screening guidelines have swung from recommending routine screening to advising against it to landing somewhere in between, and major organizations still don’t all say it the same way.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ninny regales Evelyn with tales of Idgi, her sister-in-law and friend who used to run the Whistle Stop Cafe, a restaurant on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama, that served good coffee, better barbecue, and great gossip.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
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Ricky also visited Sydney a few weeks ago, and decided to regale us with all of his strangest koala facts.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That appeared to frustrate committee members, who accused the sheriff of deflecting blame.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
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Let characters interrupt each other, mishear, deflect.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Senate Democrats and a couple of Republicans voted with Bernie Sanders to claw back DHS’ ridiculous $75 billion and redirect it to restore Medicaid cuts.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Experts also recommend cutting down unnecessary expenses so money can be redirected toward paying debt.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Divert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divert. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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