divergent

/daɪˈvɜːdʒənt/ (bre, ipa) · /daɪˈvɜːrdʒənt/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˈvər-jənt dī-/ (ame, mw)

divergent — adjective

  • divergentpositive
  • more divergentcomparative
  • most divergentsuperlative

1. no longer alike, or growing further apart over time — used of paths, opinions, e

1.形容詞C1
釋義

no longer alike, or growing further apart over time — used of paths, opinions, evolutionary lines, or any two things that started together and have grown unlike each other.

例句

The two cousins took sharply divergent paths after leaving the village.

divergent + paths — most frequent collocation

Scientists found divergent views among doctors about the new treatment for asthma.

divergent + views/opinions for disagreement among a group

同義詞
  • differing

    plain, everyday word for the same idea

  • conflicting

    stresses active disagreement, not just difference

  • disparate

    formal; emphasises items that are fundamentally unlike

反義詞

文法句型

divergent + noun

divergent from + noun

用法筆記

Subject is usually plural or a comparison pair — two paths, opposing views, separate lineages. Rarely used of a single object in isolation.

常見錯誤

❌Her answer is divergent.
✅Her answer is divergent from the others.
💡'divergent' needs a comparison partner, either as a plural subject or with 'from'.

2. describing a way of thinking that explores many unusual answers to one problem,

2.形容詞C2
釋義

describing a way of thinking that explores many unusual answers to one problem, so as to come up with fresh ideas — a term from psychology, normally paired with the noun 'thinking'.

例句

Art classes can encourage divergent thinking in young children.

divergent + thinking — the standard phrase

Esme's job interview tested her divergent thinking with several open-ended puzzles.

applied context: testing divergent thinking

同義詞
  • creative

    everyday word; less technical than 'divergent'

  • lateral

    as in 'lateral thinking' — Edward de Bono's near-synonym

反義詞
  • convergent

    narrowing toward one correct answer, the opposite mode of thinking

文法句型

divergent + thinking / thought / problem-solving

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'thinking', 'thought', 'problem-solving', or 'answers'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense praises creative variety, while sense 1 just describes things that differ.

常見錯誤

❌She is a divergent person.
✅She is a divergent thinker.
💡this sense modifies the kind of thinking, not the person directly.