These short narratives sometimes offer half-hearted morals but for the most part they're merely diverting.

Of course, it would hardly matter who bought tickets if the lottery merely diverted revenues and profits from illegal gambling to worthy government activities.

She wanted to ask, but she knew that she was merely diverting him, that some part of her didn't want to hear what he had to say.

It's been said many times before: what was once disturbing is now merely diverting.

Whether Pitx1 merely diverts a prospective forelimb from that path to become a hindlimb, or if Tbx5 is activated by another Pitx1-like messenger, is unknown.

A debate has developed over whether a team generates new spending or merely diverts money that would be spent on other leisure pursuits.

He acknowledges that merely diverting existing taxes into private accounts does not raise national savings.

It is not an issue that we should link with other matters because that merely diverts attention away from where the real work can be done.

That should help TESSAs to increase, rather than merely divert, saving.

Some may find them [songs] merely diverting melodies.