as in entertains
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
the older girl amused her four-year-old sister at the family reunion by showing her off to all the relatives
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Recent Examples of amuses
And Griffin Hanson amuses in several small roles.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The thing that amuses me the most?
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
In December, the two sat down in Exactly Right’s Burbank headquarters — a setting that still amuses them both.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Zoë has been Artemis' right-hand warrior for more than 2,000 years, giving her a more serious nature that amuses modern demigods.
—EW.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The thing that amuses me the most?
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
In December, the two sat down in Exactly Right’s Burbank headquarters — a setting that still amuses them both.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Zoë has been Artemis' right-hand warrior for more than 2,000 years, giving her a more serious nature that amuses modern demigods.
—EW.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amuses
Verb
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Activities To understand how MharoKhet connects the farm to the plate, sign up for the daily, complimentary farm walk that both educates and entertains.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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With delicate humor and heartfelt moments, this bittersweet class-comedy entertains while provoking thought about our ability to live together and create meaningful connections.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Around the old-growth-fir dining table, Nansen regales us with tales of the rebuild.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
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In the indie film, Hawke transforms himself into the diminutive composer, who regales attendees at Sardi’s bar with anecdotes about his career highs in the theater and bemoans the loss of his former partnership with Richard Rodgers.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Or maybe a still-working phonograph of Edison’s invention distracts you, until a wall of portraits of 1920s electrical manufacturing workers pulls your gaze in a new direction.—
Michael Kilian,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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Ultimately, this distracts from the struggles experienced by all those marginalized on the basis of gender.—
Jenna Norosky,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Amuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amuses. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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