diverge

verb

də-ˈvərj How to pronounce diverge (audio)
Definition of divergenext
1
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction the deer abruptly diverged from its intended path the moment it spied the waiting lynx

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to separate
to go or move in different directions from a central point at that point the road and the railroad tracks diverge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb diverge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of diverge are depart, deviate, digress, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

after school their paths diverged

When is depart a more appropriate choice than diverge?

The words depart and diverge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

In what contexts can deviate take the place of diverge?

Although the words deviate and diverge have much in common, deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When can digress be used instead of diverge?

In some situations, the words digress and diverge are roughly equivalent. However, digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

Where would swerve be a reasonable alternative to diverge?

The words swerve and diverge can be used in similar contexts, but swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When could veer be used to replace diverge?

The synonyms veer and diverge are sometimes interchangeable, but veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

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 diverge Trembley let him in the house, and from there, the facts of the case diverged. —City News Service, Oc Register, 25 June 2025 Both prohibit yield-bearing consumer stablecoins, but diverge on who regulates what. —Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 18 June 2025 Anyone saying otherwise is demonstrating how widely the political map has diverged from the territory New Yorkers actually live in, with millions tuning out the city’s politics in the process. —Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025 The finale episode, written by Lockhart herself, diverged from the book ending, but with good reason. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for diverge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diverge
  1. deviate
  2. separate
  3. turn
  4. part
  5. divide
  6. spread
  7. fork
  8. retreat
Verb
  • Instead, the Olympian’s attention deviated to the officer’s appearance.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • That’s not dissimilar from what happened in the TikTok case, where the justices — including the liberals — deviated from free-speech norms because they were panicked by concerns about China.
    — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • What also helps separate their value is that Dobson’s a righty, to complement Hutson’s left-handedness.
    — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Much depends on whether the resin can be separated from other wastes.
    — LEW SICHELMAN, Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
Definition of separate
Verb
  • Brock just turned 7 and was going for his first camp experience.
    — Janelle Griffith, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Then, as the century turned, the boys were pushed aside by rough young men.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 15 July 2025
Definition of turn
Verb
  • Would Anthopoulos be willing to go for it by parting from a promising young catcher to get a pitcher of Giolito's reliability in return?
    — Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • The 16-year-old model — whose father is actor Liev Schreiber — also opted for a glowy complexion and wore her blonde hair straightened and parted down the middle.
    — Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 9 July 2025
Definition of part
Verb
  • Know the Signs Cucumbers are typically divided into two main categories: slicing cucumbers and pickling cucumbers.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
  • Debate at meeting During the board meeting Thursday night, the room was divided between supporters of Mayer, advocates for the students who came forward, and former students who were against Mayer’s employment from being reinstated.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 12 July 2025
Definition of divide
Verb
  • Zoning, including single-family-exclusive zoning, first spread across the US in the early 20th century (before that, development was far more freewheeling and improvised).
    — Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025
  • Associated Press The Context The Daily Beast article quickly spread across social media, where Cruz faced criticism over the trip.
    — Andrew Stanton Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Definition of spread
Verb
  • The Maroon 5 singer has revealed that Shelton tricked him into forking over $5,000 to secure a not-so-little miniature pig for his partner, Behati Prinsloo.
    — Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 4 July 2025
  • But in my case that logic led down a path of potentially unnecessary tests and procedures, all of which cost money—not only to me, the patient forking over a co-pay, but also to the rest of the healthcare system.
    — Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Definition of fork
Verb
  • And in this story, Superman retreats from the world after being rejected by the public for adhering to an older moral code.
    — Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
  • But after several major box office debacles, including Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Apple retreated.
    — Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
Definition of retreat

Browse Nearby Words

dive (into)
diverge
diverged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diverge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diverge. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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