abstracted 1 of 2

Definition of abstractednext

abstracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of abstract

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abstracted distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

In what contexts can absent take the place of abstracted?

Although the words absent and abstracted have much in common, 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 absentminded be used instead of abstracted?

In some situations, the words absentminded and abstracted are roughly equivalent. However, 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 would distracted be a good substitute for abstracted?

The words distracted and abstracted are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

When could preoccupied be used to replace abstracted?

While the synonyms preoccupied and abstracted 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

How is the word abstracted distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

In what contexts can absent take the place of abstracted?

Although the words absent and abstracted have much in common, 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 absentminded be used instead of abstracted?

In some situations, the words absentminded and abstracted are roughly equivalent. However, 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 would distracted be a good substitute for abstracted?

The words distracted and abstracted are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

When could preoccupied be used to replace abstracted?

While the synonyms preoccupied and abstracted 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 abstracted
Adjective
Affecting meaningful change — or suffering from the lack of it — has become so abstracted for the rich and powerful that everything feels like entertainment to them. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025 Once solar time in Greenwich had been carried, night and day, around the spinning globe, time became highly abstracted, cut away from its animal home so as to be more easily figured both geologically and evolutionarily. Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Verb
Affecting meaningful change — or suffering from the lack of it — has become so abstracted for the rich and powerful that everything feels like entertainment to them. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025 For a digital computer, time is thin, unidimensional, and abstracted away from its thermodynamic arrow. Anil Seth, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abstracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstracted
Adjective
  • Psychoanalysts say that around the age of two or two and a half, children become preoccupied with the notion of siblings.
    Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Adelman could have positioned Murray or Johnson right outside the arc on the single side to chase the ball to make up for the empty space, instead of being so preoccupied with crashing rebounders.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • European leaders are distracted by threats to their allies in the Gulf region, and the potential shocks to their economies.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 22 Mar. 2026
  • And Iran’s attention is not also distracted by a border war with Iraq this time.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As summarized by Engelmayer, the documentary film chronicled Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam forming a dominant Jets defensive line, dubbed the New York Sack Exchange, in the early 1980s.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Here’s the five-day forecast for Broward and Palm Beach counties, summarized by AI based on information from the National Weather Service.
    Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • LaGuardia was temporarily shut down as air traffic was diverted.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The airport was shut down and air traffic was diverted, and on Monday morning operations also were halted at Newark Liberty International Airport in neighboring New Jersey.
    Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • One of those stations in Los Angeles Fire Department Station Five, where Battalion Chief Lance McCloskey outlined the process behind their emergency operations.
    Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
  • And in Houston, George Bush Intercontinental outlined screening times between two and a half and four hours at its two checkpoints that remained open.
    Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Abstracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstracted. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

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