distraction

dis·trac·tion

noun \di-ˈstrak-shən\

Definition of DISTRACTION

1

: the act of distracting or the state of being distracted; especially : mental confusion <driven to distraction>

2

: something that distracts; especially : amusement <a harmless distraction>

— dis·trac·tive \-ˈstrak-tiv\ adjective

Examples of DISTRACTION

1. It was hard to work with so many distractions.
2. One of them created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.
3. A weekend at the beach was a good distraction from her troubles.
4. Their endless chatter drove her to distraction.

First Known Use of DISTRACTION

15th century

Related to DISTRACTION

Synonyms: bafflement, bamboozlement, befuddlement, bemusement, bewilderedness, bewilderment, confusedness, discombobulation, confusion, fog, head-scratching, maze [chiefly dialect], muddle, mystification, perplexity, puzzlement, tangle, whirl

Antonyms: bore, bummer, downer, drag

Related Words: abashment, discomfiture, disconcertment, embarrassment, mortification; agitation, chagrin, discomfort, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturbance, perturbation, upset; bother, commotion, dither, flurry, fluster, fuss, stew, turmoil

Near Antonyms: assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, positiveness, sureness

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Rhymes with DISTRACTION

abstraction, attraction, bolt-action, class action, compaction, contraction, cross action, detraction, diffraction, exaction, extraction, impaction, inaction, infraction, job action, live-action, olfaction, protraction, reaction, redaction, refraction, retraction, stop-action, subtraction, transaction