distraction

Definition of distractionnext
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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distraction Fascist propaganda works by distraction and deception. Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026 Getting rest while traveling is important, and loud distractions can make that feel impossible. Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026 Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones Deal As Sony’s lightest wireless noise-cancelling headband, the WH-CH720N uses an Integrated Processor V1 to delete ambient distractions. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026 Kelly said a decision to release surveillance footage despite investigators’ objections became a lasting distraction. ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraction
Noun
  • As Mars pushes against Jupiter, doing too much creates confusion.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
  • But in the confusion and shock of the shutdown, few travelers appeared to notice, or make use of, the offers.
    Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • The flight cuts come after the Federal Aviation Administration brought the hammer down on the flying frenzy at Chicago’s largest airport last month.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • The musical, brimming over with Broadway in-jokes and phallic humor, doesn’t build so much as whip itself into a frenzy.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The bottom line Country Club Plaza remains Kansas City’s signature shopping and dining district, offering architecture, culture and entertainment just minutes from World Cup matches.
    Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Sudarma hopes that guests will plan a day and stay, enjoying multiple meals and lots of entertainment, from Asian sports cars to kids’ hip hop dance classes (free).
    Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This diversion was sold as temporary and that when state revenues stabilized and recovered, then the municipal portion of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund would be restored.
    Jennifer Mahr, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
  • Upon landing, the woman was taken into police custody and the pilot thanked James and Phoenix, shaking their hands and saying their intervention prevented an expensive diversion.
    Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • These sensors enable real-time monitoring across a wide range of conditions, including low light, fog, and obstructed environments, while onboard AI and machine-learning classifiers help identify and flag potential threats.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
  • His 2025 tape, WOMB, embodied this through his pensive grumbles over wispy vocal chops; each bar that cut through the fog was steeped in sober gravitas.
    Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The above breaks trends that began with Norris’ upset 2024 Miami Grand Prix win that broke the Invincible Verstappen rampage.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Chat logs obtained by the Florida Phoenix show 20-year-old Florida State University (FSU) student Phoenix Ikner, who killed two adults and wounded seven people during an April 2025 rampage on FSU’s campus, obsessively communicated with ChatGPT during the leadup to the shooting.
    Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • While the work’s English title might indicate a sense of amusement or distraction, the Chinese title is an idiom that refers to being caught in a dilemma, like a boat that has left one shore but has not yet reached the other.
    Pauline J. Yao, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • Imagine if Game of Thrones utilized the mind-altering technology of Westworld to extend the world of your favorite fantasy franchise beyond books, beyond television, into immersive theater-slash-amusement-park entertainment.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The attention-grabbing look marked the beginning of Rihanna’s continuing run of fashion dominance at the event, going big every time, to the delight of fashion lovers.
    Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
  • In contrast to typical airline food drowning in salt and sauces, the culinary offerings aboard Aero are a delight, with meals created in partnership with Erewhon, Spago, Parm, Sadelle’s and Flora Farms along with an open bar of top-shelf spirits and Veuve Clicquot champagne.
    Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraction. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

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