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Synonym Chooser

How is the word absentminded distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of absentminded are absent, abstracted, distracted, and preoccupied. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," 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

Where would absent be a reasonable alternative to absentminded?

The words absent and absentminded are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 can abstracted be used instead of absentminded?

While in some cases nearly identical to absentminded, 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 could distracted be used to replace absentminded?

The meanings of distracted and absentminded largely overlap; however, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

In what contexts can preoccupied take the place of absentminded?

While the synonyms preoccupied and absentminded are close in meaning, 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 absentminded Ludwig Von Drake Ludwig Von Drake is the wise and eccentric professor who is known to be brilliant, but sometimes an absent-minded scientist and inventor. Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 12 Mar. 2025 Your nails go through a lot: handwashing, polishing, maybe some absent-minded picking (guilty). Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025 For Walton, Candide represents an innocent, sometimes absent-minded, young individual who doesn’t know anything about the world—or really that much about himself. Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025 That rule is forgiving to absent-minded voters, but slows tallying because those ballots still need to go through signature checks and other processes. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec. 2024 Colleagues described him as an absent-minded professor type. Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024 The French might be sad if Emily leaves for Italy, but Americans in Paris are unlikely to shed any tears; many of them have had enough of the Chicago native’s absent-minded cultural blunders. Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2024 Levey, who didn’t keep documentation of his side of the bartering, acknowledges that a less absent-minded customer would have demanded clearer accounting. Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 The seemingly absent-minded senior only occasionally uses his toy to talk to nurses, who are largely charmed by the mostly mute Dave and his silent doll. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absentminded
Adjective
  • The United States had withdrawn from the World Health Organization and the U.N. Human Rights Council; the State Department seemed more preoccupied with deportations than with diplomacy.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Early in this episode, Dina mentions to a preoccupied Joel that one of the community’s underground pipes — connected to the outside — has been rendered useless by encroaching roots.
    Noel Murray, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than trying to navigate life with messy and forgetful parent or being shuttled off to yet another activity as might happen in the other two types of families.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 5 May 2025
  • The forgetful habit of misplacing or losing essential belongings is a universal experience, resulting in an average person losing approximately four items a month and more than 3,000 in their lifetime.
    Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Follow the rules of the road—and stay off your phone - Stick to speed limits, obey traffic signals, and never drive distracted.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • That was a possible sign of fatigue or distracted driving, some experts told CBS Austin — a problem that truckers told The Hill is endemic across an industry that pushes them to work around the clock.
    Saul Elbein, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Pew found 55% of Republicans are confused about the information out there on climate change--but this was also true for 39% of Democrats.
    Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • The two ‘deals’ have left tariff policy more confused than ever, argues columnist Michael Hiltzik.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Absentminded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absentminded. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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