diverting 1 of 2

adjective

də-ˈvər-tiŋ How to pronounce diverting (audio)
Definition of divertingnext
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
1
as in entertaining
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied a light comedy to divert the tired business executive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turning
to change the course or direction of (something) the bike race was diverted around the construction zone

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3
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
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 But you were also treated to a diverting and delightful narrative, rich with insider’s lore. — BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2021 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
Supergirl the film, meanwhile, is only a mildly diverting whiff. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 Unfortunately, while there are presumably less diverting ways to spend close to two hours in a stuffy, packed multiplex, the movie is a preachy, one-note affair. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2026 Fable mitigates this by diverting sensitive requests to less powerful models. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 That includes sweeping hundreds of millions of dollars out of special taxing districts, borrowing to pay for legal settlements and retroactive pay bumps, and diverting pandemic relief money away from programs and toward payroll instead. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 The star of this hair oil is Alpha Keratin 60ku, Virtue’s proprietary protein that functions as a train conductor directing and diverting repair to split ends, weak strands, and fragile follicles. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 23 June 2026 In a social media post Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Police Department wrote that bags that don’t meet the event’s clear bag policy were diverting law enforcement resources, as those bags have to be thoroughly inspected. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026 Closing the Manhattan Bridge, diverting traffic, and managing the safety of staging a zombie apocalypse downtown required the cooperation and manpower of multiple agencies with their own sets of pressing priorities and responsibilities. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 June 2026 In 1839, 53 captive Mende people taken from Sierra Leone revolted aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad, diverting the ship from its original destination of Cuba toward the Northeast. — Calista Oetama, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverting
  1. amusing
  2. entertaining
  3. turning
  4. distracting
  5. fun
  6. regaling
  7. redirecting
  8. enjoyable
Adjective
  • Cavill, absent from the proceedings for long stretches, remains a sturdy presence as the most buff screen Sherlock ever, while Helena Bonham Carter is again reliably amusing as Enola and Sherlock’s sardonic mother Eudoria.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
  • Elmosnino is an amusing villain, making his most self-serving machinations sound reasonable.
    — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of amusing
Verb
  • However, incorporating the latest luxury pool design trends can take backyard entertaining to another level.
    — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • And frankly, returning viewers as well, since the Enola Holmes films, while entertaining enough, don’t exactly linger in the memory.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
Definition of entertaining
Verb
  • The Lakers have a history of turning undrafted players into NBA contributors.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Given modern advances, many organizations are turning towards auto-triaging by AI services and other digital tools to help ease the burden for physicians.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of turning
Verb
  • Driving into the estate down a dirt track, you’re met with concrete walls that frame the space with gallery-like precision, directing your eyes toward geological features rather than distracting from them.
    — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
  • There was some online angst over whether Swift was distracting from football — while the NFL itself capitalized on her fandom.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of distracting
Adjective
  • The Bubble is fun and cute, but its lack of polish ends up dismissing it as a gimmick.
    — Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Another fun way to capture the vibe is to look for gorgeous home décor or new furniture!
    — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Definition of fun
Verb
  • 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
  • His mind was as sharp as a tack, again regaling us with amazing hockey stories.
    — Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Definition of regaling
Verb
  • Their system screens bookings based on factors like listing type, duration, and guest location, redirecting potential party-goers.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • If the fund ultimately moves forward, California’s law would impose a 100% state tax on payments made to California recipients, effectively redirecting the money to state funds.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of redirecting
Adjective
  • More than 90% agreed or strongly agreed that scent work is enjoyable for dogs, tires them out and builds confidence in shy dogs.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • An enjoyable end-to-end affair where the first half felt like a rout, with Australia having as many shots as yellow cards — two, the same number of goals the United States had scored.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of enjoyable

Browse Nearby Words

diverted
diverting
divertissement
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Cite this Entry

“Diverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverting. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on diverting

Nglish: Translation of diverting for Spanish Speakers

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