DIVERTING Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

diverting 1 of 2

adjective

də-ˈvər-tiŋ

Definition of diverting

as in amusing

providing amusement or enjoyment some tall and diverting tales were told by the festival's roving storyteller

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

diverting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of divert

as in entertaining

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in turning

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in distracting

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 diverting

Adjective

But you were also treated to a diverting and delightful narrative, rich with insider’s lore. — BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2021 The plan also would call for constant testing of players and staff, which could mean diverting resources from public health care. — Nick Piecoro, azcentral, 6 Apr. 2020 Both popular and science media show an outsized fondness for brain imaging studies, inspiring much work more diverting than informative. — David Dobbs, WIRED, 4 July 2006

Verb

This year alone, $5 billion in taxpayer funds will be siphoned away from public schools to prop up Florida’s unaccountable voucher program, diverting dollars from the more than 80% of children who attend public schools. — Andrew Spar, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 All this scattershot world-building and world-visiting allows for some colorfully diverting vignettes, in which production designer Alexandra Walker and costume designer Ann Maskrey get to show off their giddy, gaudy wares. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026 Discovery merger as prolonged uncertainty runs the risk of diverting time and resources away from achieving these priorities. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 Still, diverting textiles from landfill does not necessarily make a system circular. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026 Starting in early 2025, Salisbury oversaw the unprecedented reassignment of more than 6,000 agents to immigration enforcement, diverting most of the agency from its normal duties. — Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2026 Microsoft has tried to diversify from its longtime partner while diverting computing resources toward improving Copilot. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 Beginning Thursday, the Fort Worth Fire Department has been diverting ambulances carrying patients with trauma, strokes and STEMI heart attacks to other hospitals, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2026 Most of the townships were diverting those funds to the road district. — Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverting

Adjective

American style can be at turns confounding, amusing, and aspirational.

— Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026
Morgan Stanley’s Lisa Shalett and her team produced this amusing chart showing year-over-year percentage growth in tech capex, compared with the same for the dotcom bubble era.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of amusing

Verb

No, not entertaining in the typical star-player-doing-amazing-things kind of way.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
With a staff of tremendous talent, including director Mitch Riggin, FOX Sports IndyCar Director, Miller produces and entertaining telecast that sets FOX Sports apart from its other television competitors.

— Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of entertaining

Verb

But that doesn’t mean the show is cured of its worst instincts, like turning people’s very serious, consequential life problems into entertainment.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
That rare constellation of stars aligned Sunday, turning a lucrative trading card show into a priceless event for Florida fans.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of turning

Verb

The distracting Diwali fireworks distracted led to reshoots of the pivotal moment.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Not only are these sheer curtains over half off right now, but the subtle stripe adds just enough visual interest without distracting from your room’s overall design scheme.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of distracting

Verb

The two dashing newcomers have since been regaling the Georgia Aquarium’s existing belugas, a quartet of females*, with tales of their peregrinations.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
One morning earlier this week, Thomas Lupo, the president and CEO of the American Wood Column Corporation, was in his office regaling two young entrepreneurs with tales of his 110-year-old family business.

— Anne Kadet, Curbed, 12 June 2026

Definition of regaling

Verb

The war was top of mind at last year’s festival as well, where thousands gathered for a large pro-Palestinian protest during one of the busiest nights in hopes of redirecting the spotlight from the movie stars to the real world.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
However, the city expects to use economic activity taxes generated by the stadium, a special 1% sales tax in the stadium and redirecting new tax revenue from existing development in the area, among other sources.

— Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of redirecting

Adjective

Define your part, name the deadline, and choose the version of participation that keeps creativity enjoyable and commitment realistic.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
But the mystery train starts veering off the rails as Flowers wanders away from enjoyable rhinestone reinvention and defaults to the heavy-handed Springsteenian realism that’s sometimes been both his Rosetta stone and his Achilles’ heel.

— Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of enjoyable

Browse Nearby Words

diverted

diverting

divertissement

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Style

“Diverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverting. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of diverting

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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