divertissement

noun

di-ˈvər-tə-smənt How to pronounce divertissement (audio)
Definition of divertissementnext
as in entertainment
someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment for visitors seeking more cerebral divertissement, the city boasts a fine performing arts center

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 divertissement What sets the Summer Jam apart, of course, is the Y2K theme, a popular divertissement that celebrates various trends and aesthetics of the nascent millennium. — Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2025 Life at The Sea Ranch is predictably bucolic, frequently focused on divertissements for the couple’s young children, Miles and Juliet. — Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2025 The loveliest expression of these is in the second act, where the enchanted forest is replaced by a pure-dance divertissement. — Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 10 June 2022 And the Mother Ginger divertissement had to be omitted altogether, since there was no way to fit eight older Polichinelles under her skirt. — Jeffrey Gantz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021 This season, the Act 2 pas de quatre, a speedy and demanding divertissement for three women and one man, was cut to help streamline the ballet. — New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020 Historical revisionism as an academic divertissement is corrupting, muddling the intellects of generations. — Jakub Grygiel, National Review, 8 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divertissement
  1. entertainment
  2. diversion
  3. recreation
  4. delight
  5. fun
Noun
  • Until now, backlash has been Hollywood’s default stance on AI, as the industry slumped under pressure from entertainment streaming services and soaring production costs.
    — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The scenery is beautiful, though the onboard entertainment leans into classic all-inclusive territory, complete with a digital saxophone performance, audience participation, and the inevitable Macarena throw down.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of entertainment
Noun
  • The gatherings were family events meant for diversion, Paul said.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Less snowpack, as well as more water diversions for agricultural and urban uses, has brought the lake down to less than 33% full and 8 feet below its minimum healthy elevation.
    — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of diversion
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
  • Seeing ominous vines twist to life on towering trees, or watching the Cheshire Cat materialize through the woodland setting, is always a delight.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • And the vongole, an instant take on the famous clam pasta, is an unexpected delight.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of delight
Noun
  • And while the giant disco balls might not be for everyone, Musgraves seems to be having plenty of fun with them.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The all-day menu at Hurly-Burly is filled with light bites, plus an array of fun drinks for kids and adults.
    — Megan duBois, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fun

Browse Nearby Words

diverting
divertissement
divertissements
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Divertissement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divertissement. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All