1
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
in my distraction I forgot where I was
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frenzy
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion
driven to distraction by the constant screaming and bickering in the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in entertainment
the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public
the founder of a recovery program who doesn't view gambling as a harmless distraction for people of modest means
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in diversion
someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment
a harmless distraction for children at the playground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distraction
The bottom line is that South Florida provides an NFL player, and team, plenty of distractions.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
People like Gabbard, who served in Iraq and Kuwait, saw overseas conflicts as costly distractions from domestic problems, and viewed American military power with deep cynicism.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Aside from the Kuminga distraction, the issue for the Warriors is that Moody and Podziemski continue to struggle to put solid games together.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Choosing whole foods and eating without distractions can also improve satiety and fullness.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraction
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
People like Gabbard, who served in Iraq and Kuwait, saw overseas conflicts as costly distractions from domestic problems, and viewed American military power with deep cynicism.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Aside from the Kuminga distraction, the issue for the Warriors is that Moody and Podziemski continue to struggle to put solid games together.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Choosing whole foods and eating without distractions can also improve satiety and fullness.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraction
Noun
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Multiple helpers can slow response during urgent scams and create confusion when fast decisions matter.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The category confusion continued this year.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Travelers not seeking football frenzy should avoid the fall, when hotel and airfare prices skyrocket and crowds are large.—
Sarah Cahalan,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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January was set to host a free-agent frenzy, with most league veterans aligning their contracts to expire in advance of the new CBA.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Jan. 2026
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The character came to life after the writers' strike temporarily shut down much of the entertainment industry.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The mental health diversion program covers 300 disorders, ranging from anxiety to neurological conditions.—
Tori Apodaca,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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According to the Chronicle, Luchin’s public defender is now seeking a mental health diversion to provide substance abuse treatment.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Investigators noted that fog was present in the area at the time of the collision.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Victims of and witnesses to the rampage expressed disappointment and concern following the ruling, with at least one questioning whether the decision was moral or just.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
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The latest problem for Vance is that the department is taking its rebrand too literally, threatening or engaging in a dangerous, multi-nation-conquering, oil-grabbing rampage that the vice president must defend, yet has been noticeably quiet.—
Myra Adams,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Even as his Reddit-haunting admirers still parse his lyrics for hidden meanings, his spirit surely looks down on them with wry amusement at his fans’ unending search for profundity.—
Alexander Larman,
Time,
10 Jan. 2026
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Unidentified plainclothes dudes then dragged her out of the high school auditorium while other Idahoans watched — some in amusement, others not so much.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In 2022, Stonestreet trolled Ferguson by reposting an edited version of a throwback photo Ferguson had shared earlier that day, to the delight of Modern Family fans.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Cove is much larger, with a more formal service style, but the exactitude is still there, the sense of stylishness, the obsession and the delight.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraction. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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