1
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
she's been distracted about her son ever since he left on that polar expedition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in preoccupied
lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions
the distracted driver rear-ended the pickup truck that had stopped for the red light
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
she's been chronically depressed and distracted since her husband's death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in diverted
to draw the attention or mind to something else
we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracted
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The high-profile nature of Stone’s case raises awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and reliance on surveillance technology, pressuring the manufacturers to assess the accuracy of their products to prevent this tragedy from occurring again.
—John Perlstein, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors told the jury not to be distracted by these arguments, that the broader picture clearly showed who was at the center of these killings.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Adjective
If the behavior stops when distracted, boredom is likely the cause.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The high-profile nature of Stone’s case raises awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and reliance on surveillance technology, pressuring the manufacturers to assess the accuracy of their products to prevent this tragedy from occurring again.
—John Perlstein, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
The local controller was distracted, the report said, talking to another air traffic control facility about the wrong altitude assigned to a different departing aircraft.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors told the jury not to be distracted by these arguments, that the broader picture clearly showed who was at the center of these killings.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted
Adjective
-
Are assassins like Kirk’s killer simply pathological outliers among agitated but otherwise self-restrained populations?—
Ron Barrett,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
-
According to the complaint, video footage from a nearby convenience store showed Cullen in the shop appearing agitated and holding a handgun.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s a pattern that so far defies logic, and everyone seems too preoccupied by other dramas to make the connection.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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Signs of life from defensive sectors and consumer cyclicals wobbling might suggest the market is more preoccupied with near-term downside macroeconomic risk, as we likely are headed into a government shutdown and an official-data vacuum.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With scraggly hair and beard and a dazed countenance of man waking up from an unspeakable dream, Reeves brings the tender vulnerability to his Estragon (aka Gogo).—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Hair disheveled, a dazed and bewildered look in his eyes, the coach trudged into his own dressing room to regroup and get a rundown of a growing list of injuries.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The munition can also be diverted mid-flight if battlefield conditions change — a feature that commanders say minimizes collateral damage and protects soldiers.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
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All traffic on that section of I-35E was being diverted to Oak Lawn Avenue.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nigin told her later that, yes, she had been alarmed by the cut but had resolved to check on her students.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The conservative tilt of the Supreme Court has alarmed some LGBTQ+ advocates who believe the ban is at risk.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Nobody even seems particularly surprised or distraught.—
Jennifer Gonnerman,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The Alvord High School science teacher, who had told her students about feeding the sick kitten to the snake, gave three other kittens to a student who was distraught about the incident.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As Friday’s stabbing incident involving NFL alum Mark Sanchez slowly comes into focus, the team at Fox Sports seems to be just as bewildered as the rest of us.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Hair disheveled, a dazed and bewildered look in his eyes, the coach trudged into his own dressing room to regroup and get a rundown of a growing list of injuries.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Part of the controversy appears to have related to the fact that the carpet covered tile that, if disturbed, could expose children to asbestos.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Boxelder bugs can also release an unpleasant smell when crushed or otherwise disturbed.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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