DIVERTS Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

diverts

verb

present tense third-person singular of divert

as in amuses

to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied a light comedy to divert the tired business executive

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as in turns

to change the course or direction of (something) the bike race was diverted around the construction zone

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as in distracts

to draw the attention or mind to something else trying to divert the child with a toy while the doctor was giving her a shot

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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 diverts Instead, your body diverts its limited calories elsewhere, pushing hair follicles into a two- to four-month resting phase before hair eventually sheds. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026 Blocking one chokepoint diverts traffic to others, congesting alternatives. — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 The attempt by former HFPA members to leverage the Golden Globe Foundation, an independent nonprofit, simply to secure Golden Globes tickets is an unfortunate distraction that inappropriately diverts resources from legitimate charitable causes. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 July 2026 An Israeli military official said such violence by Israelis diverts the defense force’s attention from its primary mission of defense and counterterrorism in a complex environment. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026 Her peer on the city payroll diverts up to 9% of every paycheck into funds paying today’s retirees — even though those funds’ ability to pay her own retirement is in doubt. — Stuart Loren, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Where the film diverts from the norm lies in the unique, complicated characters and their weird, tortured even touching relationships. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026 That waterway has taken on new significance since the start of the war, as Saudi Arabia now diverts millions of barrels of crude there to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 Plata gets into that area and diverts the ball past Neuer to seal Ecuador’s place in the knockout phase. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverts

Verb

According to the inner circle, the mythology is something that amuses Vernon more than anything else.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026
And Griffin Hanson amuses in several small roles.

— Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026

Definition of amuses

Verb

Ask who owns what, adjust the timeline, and make one practical fix before momentum turns messy.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
Conversations about the ethics of true crime storytelling persist in the space, especially with critics who claim that the genre turns pain into product and entertainment.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of turns

Verb

There’s the studio version, which has some really interesting production, with Meg’s shuddering percussion that eventually grates and distracts, and Jack’s very chunky guitar.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Outer Banks’ success has always rested on an emotional depth that distracts from nonsense plot points and over-the-top escapades.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of distracts

Verb

In the video, testers are seated in a ride vehicle attached to a robotic arm that swings around nearly 360 degrees in the air.

— Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
During one of the more graphic sequences, It4mi swings a blade at the woman, severing her arm and sending blood across the frame.

— Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of swings

Verb

Trump regularly regales audiences with his prowess as a dealmaker by recounting conversations he's had with Macron about trade irritants, mimicking Macron's responses in an exaggerated accent.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 June 2026
Aboard the boat, Terry regales his passengers with tales of the river, from namesake Twain to tragic Lovers' Leap just downstream of Hannibal.

— Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 31 May 2026

Definition of regales

Verb

Calhoun, a defensive back, deflects a last-second two-point conversion pass with a fingertip and UM beats Nebraska, 31-30, for its first of five national championships.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
Because the unexpected droppers have created confusion, however, QB Matthew Stafford throws a pass that deflects off Spillane and is intercepted.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of deflects

Verb

Most surprising, Just Us is marked by a lack of intellectual rigor that often veers close to bad faith.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
The performance is daringly weird, perverse and outlandish, seductively charming, and, for all the flamboyance, Curry never veers out of control, never takes it too far.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of veers

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divertissements

diverts

dives

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

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Synonyms of diverts

verb

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