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
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The main culprits are well known – speeding, alcohol, distracted driving, and the simple failure to wear a seatbelt.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Karl Vick, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
By hinting that his business was the victim of shape-shifting saboteurs, Westergaard distracted from the more prosaic story about the carelessness of his staff.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Adjective
The Greg Knapp Memorial Fund raises money to save lives through education and advocacy on the dangers of distracted driving.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The main culprits are well known – speeding, alcohol, distracted driving, and the simple failure to wear a seatbelt.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
The reputation distracted, perhaps shrewdly, from Cheney’s failure, as the official Bush had placed in charge of terrorism, to heed warnings about 9/11.
—Karl Vick, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
By hinting that his business was the victim of shape-shifting saboteurs, Westergaard distracted from the more prosaic story about the carelessness of his staff.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted
Adjective
-
But Colcord kept probing, and Lowell grew agitated.—
Michael Waters,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Players from both teams shoved in front of the Providence bench, with Jones stepping in the middle as an agitated Ejiofor exchanged words with Powell.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Staying small has also, historically, been linked to staying weak, preoccupied, and politically apathetic—all qualities that women in this country (or frankly, any country) cannot afford to be at this moment.—
Michelle Konstantinovsky,
Glamour,
22 Dec. 2025
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Even more preoccupied with toilet humor than its predecessor, Scary Movie 2 hauled in substantially less at the box office.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Glancing around the standing-room-only party, filled with joyful hugs and happy chatter as guests drank spicy margaritas and nibbled on fries in paper cones printed with quotes from the book, a dazed Brown smiled.—
Hadley Meares,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In one of the film’s least subtle moments, a dazed Bruce is startled to attention.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pilots diverted the flight to Buffalo to attempt an emergency landing.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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The $155,000 figure was within a range covered by insurance, and FBI investigators found that no individual donor funds were diverted before they were deposited into the Bright Futures Fund, Johnston wrote.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
These changes have left Israelis alarmed, according to the survey.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
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Don’t be alarmed when the vinegar reacts with the baking soda.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Johnson was distraught last week, after falling just short in his first start of the season, against Dallas.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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Nearly a week since the killings, family members of the beloved couple have set up a fundraiser for the distraught children.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Instead, a bewildered stranger answers the door.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The whales' communication can be disturbed by underwater noise made by humans, and the interference often deters them from certain crucial areas, like breeding and feeding locations.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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For instance, Bella's first meeting with Edward in their biology class is supposed to be this unnerving moment, where Bella is disturbed by Edward's apparent repulsion toward her.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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