diversionary
adjective
di·ver·sion·ary də-ˈvər-zhə-ˌner-ē 
dī-,
-shə-
: tending to draw attention away from the principal concern : being a diversion
Example Sentences
This is nothing more than a diversionary tactic to distract attention from the issues.
Recent Examples on the Web This occurs when someone feels overwhelmed by their emotions during interpersonal conflict and then physically or emotionally disconnects, such as by walking away, changing the subject or reaching for other diversionary behaviors. 
Andrew Reiner, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 According to the plan, the community court prosecutors would recommend appropriate community service or connect the person accused with diversionary programs, like drug or mental health courts. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2022 Border guards have detected Russian diversionary groups trying to enter their territory at night, said a local guards chief, Serhiy Homenko. New York Times, 14 June 2022 A month earlier, a national database of automobile insurance policies was raided during a diversionary cyberattack that defaced Ukrainian websites. NBC News, 28 Apr. 2022 Publicly, this involved a rhetoric of universalism, the exaggerated spectre of vacant museums, and diversionary offers of developmental assistance. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2022 The offender also cannot have completed a separate diversionary program within five years of the new offense. Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2022 The top Russian intelligence official in charge of overseeing the recruitment of spies and diversionary operations in Ukraine has been put under house arrest along with his deputy, Mr. Soldatov said. New York Times, 22 Mar. 2022 Historical data shows that diversionary wars — fighting abroad to draw attention away from problems at home — have rarely worked for Putin. Arik Burakovsky, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2022 See More
Andrew Reiner, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 According to the plan, the community court prosecutors would recommend appropriate community service or connect the person accused with diversionary programs, like drug or mental health courts. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2022 Border guards have detected Russian diversionary groups trying to enter their territory at night, said a local guards chief, Serhiy Homenko. New York Times, 14 June 2022 A month earlier, a national database of automobile insurance policies was raided during a diversionary cyberattack that defaced Ukrainian websites. NBC News, 28 Apr. 2022 Publicly, this involved a rhetoric of universalism, the exaggerated spectre of vacant museums, and diversionary offers of developmental assistance. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2022 The offender also cannot have completed a separate diversionary program within five years of the new offense. Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2022 The top Russian intelligence official in charge of overseeing the recruitment of spies and diversionary operations in Ukraine has been put under house arrest along with his deputy, Mr. Soldatov said. New York Times, 22 Mar. 2022 Historical data shows that diversionary wars — fighting abroad to draw attention away from problems at home — have rarely worked for Putin. Arik Burakovsky, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
diversion + -ary entry 2
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined above