DIVERSION Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

diversion

noun

də-ˈvər-zhən

Definition of diversion

as in entertainment

someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment a scavenger hunt was organized as a diversion for the guests at the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in amusement

the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public movies and television became two of the most popular and influential diversions of the 20th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in deviation

a turning away from a course or standard carefully weighed testimony that did not contain the slightest diversion from the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

adherence

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 diversion Photography, woodworking, furniture making and craftsmanship are not casual diversions for him. — Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026 The legislation is expected to raise more than $1 billion for the region’s mass transit systems annually with the help of a sales tax hike and a diversion of the state’s sales tax on motor fuel to public transit. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Ever the hopeless romantic, Ted searches for the love of his life through a constant series of twists, turns, diversions, blue French horns, slap bets, and yellow umbrellas. — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026 If a judge accepts a diversion agreement, Flores would have to satisfy certain terms and conditions for about a year. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for diversion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diversion

Noun

Potential suitors would also naturally be looking at what the future holds for the entertainment business at large.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The global board game market has been on the upswing since 2020, when people looked for new entertainment and hobbies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

— Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of entertainment

Noun

In stories centered on objects ranging from a button to a tin soldier, young authors recognize the it-narrative’s potential not only for amusement but for showcasing the power of the small and marginal.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Remmick, Jimmy Crystal and Larry Lamb share an unrelenting desire to entertain, whether performing music outside a juke joint, indulging amusement with graphic violence or delighting the British reading public with scandal and drama.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of amusement

Noun

Genetic deviations that impair the processing of alcohol turn out to be associated with lower rates of alcoholism.

— Shayla Love, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
The price of call options betting on a one standard-deviation move – contracts with a roughly 16% chance of making money – are in the 70th percentile of the past year, according to Nations Indexes data.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of deviation

Noun

Unlike tobacco, a static product with no real defensible qualities outside of recreation, consumer technology is ever evolving, and the lines between harmfully addictive and beneficial to society can be extremely blurry.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
The youth center has been a community staple for decades where children and teenagers turned for academic support and recreation.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of recreation

Noun

Katseye’s departure from Daisy Chain Fields comes while the group, which debuted as a six-member group, remains down two singers.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Compared, say, with the 1990s here, the suite of departures to points near and far is formidable.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of departure

Noun

Cask-finished whiskey has been released by many other distilleries, but as mentioned above, this year marks the first time that Four Roses has entered the category, to the delight of some whiskey drinkers and the chagrin of others.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
Spike Fearn and Angourie Rice delight as academic opposites in this quick-witted, big-hearted and genuinely youthful-feeling British charmer.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of delight

Noun

Paranormal Activity understands just how much fun that can be, crafting a story so suspenseful, so surprising and so startling that the audience’s screams become a soundtrack all their own.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
There’s a fun bit when Green pulls her badge to walk Reacher out through the police cordon, pretending to have placed him under arrest, but the ruse doesn’t last long.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of fun

Browse Nearby Words

diverseness

diversion

diversions

See all Nearby Words

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Style

“Diversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diversion. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of diversion

noun

Example Sentences

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