diversion
Entertainment or detour
Diversion is the act of turning something aside from its course.
A river diversion redirects water flow; a traffic diversion routes vehicles around an obstruction.
The word extends to anything that draws attention away: The fire was a diversion while accomplices robbed the vault.
In gentler use, a diversion is a pleasant distraction or amusement: Golf was his favorite diversion from work pressures.
Recreational pursuit
- amusementPleased entertainment state
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- leisureFree time for relaxation
- hobbyRecreational leisure activity
relaxation · fun · enjoyment · pleasure · escape · distraction · respite · play
Intentional focus manipulation
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
ruse · ploy · subterfuge · bluff · sleight · camouflage · disguise · deflection
Deceptive mock attack
- flankingAt the sides of
- tacticalStrategically planned
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- assaultViolent offensive act
ambush · raid · sortie · reconnaissance · counterattack · infiltration · sabotage · strike
Send a different way
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- alternate routeSecondary path to destination
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- redirectSend in new direction
roundabout · side road · turnoff · backroad · shortcut · circuitous · veer · swerve
pastime
Recreational pursuit
- amusementPleased entertainment state
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- leisureFree time for relaxation
hobby · relaxation · fun · enjoyment · pleasure · escape · distraction · respite · play · sport
misdirection
Intentional focus manipulation
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
smokescreen · ruse · ploy · subterfuge · bluff · sleight · camouflage · disguise · deflection · disinformation
feint
Deceptive mock attack
assault · ambush · raid · sortie · reconnaissance · counterattack · infiltration · sabotage · strike · operation
reroute
Send a different way
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- alternate routeSecondary path to destination
- deviationDeparture from expected path
redirect · roundabout · side road · turnoff · backroad · shortcut · circuitous · veer · swerve · fork
canal
Dug water passage
- damWater-holding barrier
- channelPassage for transmission
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
spillway · aqueduct · sluice · weir · levee · reservoir · drainage · floodgate · culvert · intake
- alternate routesbypass, detour, alternate route, reroute, shortcut
- redirectingrerouting, detour, deflecting, channeling, shunting
- leisurerecreation, pastimes, downtime, free time, relaxation
- pastimeshobbies, amusement, puzzles, cards, crafting
- criminal justicearrest, jail, court, prison, crime
- recyclingrecycle, recycling, recycling bin, recycle bin, recycling bins
diversiondirectness
Quality of being straightforward
direct route · straight path · main road · continuation · direct approach
- diversionary tacticsActions meant to mislead
- flight diversionUnplanned change of destination
- water diversionRedirecting flow elsewhere
- traffic diversionRedirecting vehicles around obstruction
- river diversionAltering a watercourse's path
- diversion programNon-prison criminal resolution