absent 1 of 2

1
as in missing
not at a certain place three students were absent because of the flu

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

absent

2 of 2

preposition

as in without
not having absent a significant source of investment funds, the fledgling company continues to struggle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word absent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of absent are absentminded, abstracted, distracted, and preoccupied. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

When might absentminded be a better fit than absent?

Although the words absentminded and absent have much in common, absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

When can abstracted be used instead of absent?

The words abstracted and absent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

When would distracted be a good substitute for absent?

In some situations, the words distracted and absent are roughly equivalent. However, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

When is preoccupied a more appropriate choice than absent?

While in some cases nearly identical to absent, preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

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 absent
Adjective
And the support from one voice that could narrow this race is largely absent. Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025 Noticeably absent from any of the pictures and videos was Urban. Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Preposition
Under no circumstances should Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed absent a full and complete investigation. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, 27 Sep. 2018 See All Example Sentences for absent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absent
Adjective
  • That’s the missing chink in the armor right now.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Jeremy Moore was identified by WZTV as a longtime employee at the facility who is now missing.
    Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And every year is subject to the quality of the free-agent class, and 2021’s starting pitching market was especially lacking.
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Art that truly centres girlhood, meanwhile, had too often been dismissed as sentimental or lacking intellectual rigor.
    Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 25 Sep. 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
  • 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
Preposition
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers' already struggling bullpen will be without one of its key members as the team prepares for the NLCS.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The report also calculated the amount of PFNA that people could be exposed to without being harmed — a critical measurement that can be used to set limits for cleaning up PFNA contamination in Superfund sites and for removing the chemical from drinking water.
    Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Fubo offers a free upgrade to ESPN, which carries all the out-of-market NHL games all season long.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • And then Michael McBride was just a monster on the drums and probably more of an out-of-control heavy hitter.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In this chaotic world of busy schedules, stressful current events and personal responsibilities, growing distracted from your internal world is common.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Doing these podcasts keeps me distracted but motivated in fighting my condition.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Absent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absent. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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