| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | turn a different direction |
| Synonyms: | alter, avert, change, deflect, modify, pivot, redirect, sheer, swerve, switch, turn aside, veer, volte-face, wheel, whip, whirl |
| Antonyms: | be direct, keep to, maintain, stay |
| Main Entry: | divert |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | take attention away |
| Synonyms: | abstract, attract attention, bend the rules, catch flies, circumlocute, detach, deter, detract, disadvise, discourage, disengage, dissuade, distract, disturb, draw away, get around, lead astray, lead away, send on a wild-goose chase, sidetrack, stall |
| Main Entry: | amuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | entertain; make laugh |
| Synonyms: | break one up, charm, cheer, crack up, delight, divert, fracture, gladden, grab*, gratify, interest, kill*, knock dead, make roll in the aisles, occupy, panic*, please, put away, regale, slay, tickle, wow* |
| Notes: | the first meaning of amuse was 'to divert the attention of in order to mislead,' 'delude, deceive' and now means 'entertain, make smile or laugh'; bemuse means 'confuse, bewilder, puzzle' |
| Antonyms: | anger, annoy, bore, dull, tire, upset |
| Main Entry: | avert |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | thwart; avoid by turning away |
| Synonyms: | avoid, deflect, deter, divert, fend off, foil, forestall, frustrate, halt, look away, preclude, prevent, rule out, shove aside, shunt, stave off, turn, turn aside, turn away, ward off |
| Antonyms: | aid, help |
| Main Entry: | avoid |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | refrain or stay away from; prevent |
| Synonyms: | abstain, avert, bypass, circumlocute, circumvent, deflect, desist, ditch, divert, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, fake out, fend off, flee, give the slip, hide, hold off, jump, keep clear, lay low, obviate, recoil, run for cover, shake, shake and bake, shake off, shirk, shrink from, shuffle off, shun, shy, sidestep, skip out on, skip town, skip*, skirt, stay away, stay out, steer clear of, step aside, turn aside, ward off, weave, withdraw |
| Antonyms: | face, meet, seek, want |
| Main Entry: | beguile |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | charm |
| Synonyms: | amuse, attract, cheer, delight, distract, divert, engross, entertain, entice, knock dead, knock out, lure, occupy, seduce, send, slay, solace, sweep off one's feet, tickle, tickle pink, tickle to death, turn on, vamp, wow* |
| Main Entry: | comfort |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make to feel better |
| Synonyms: | abate, aid, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, assist, assuage, bolster, buck up, calm, cheer, commiserate with, compose, condole, confirm, console, delight, divert, ease, encourage, enliven, free, gladden, grant respite, hearten, help, inspirit, invigorate, lighten burden, make well, mitigate, nourish, put at ease, quiet fears, reanimate, reassure, refresh, relieve, remedy, revitalize, revive, salve, soften, solace, soothe, strengthen, stroke, succor, support, sustain, sympathize, uphold, upraise |
| Antonyms: | aggravate, annoy, bother, distress, exasperate, hurt, irritate, provoke, torment, torture, trouble, vex |
| Main Entry: | curve |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bending in a shape or course |
| Synonyms: | arc, arch, bend, bow, buckle, bulge, coil, concave, convex, crook, crumple, curl, deviate, divert, gyrate, hook, incurve, inflect, loop, round, skew, snake, spiral, stoop, swerve, turn, twist, veer, wind, wreathe |
| Antonyms: | straighten |
| Main Entry: | deflect |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bounce off; turn aside |
| Synonyms: | avert, bend, cover up, curve, deviate, disperse, diverge, divert, fend, glance off, hold off, hook, keep off, parry, pivot, ricochet, sheer, shy, sidetrack, slew, slip, swerve, twist, veer, volte-face, wheel, whip, whirl, wind |