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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 distracted
Rachel Greszler, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Reckless driving, which typically involves a combination of speeding, distracted driving and erratic and aggressive behaviors, has remained a persistent issue across the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The bus driver got distracted and lost control, officials said, overcorrecting and rolling over on the interstate, near the town of Pembroke, about 40 miles east of Niagara Falls.
—Nic Anderson, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Adjective
Younger cohorts report feeling 20% more distracted and careless than just a decade ago.
—Rachel Greszler, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Reckless driving, which typically involves a combination of speeding, distracted driving and erratic and aggressive behaviors, has remained a persistent issue across the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Shao allegedly told police he was distracted at the time of the crash and over-corrected.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The bus driver got distracted and lost control, officials said, overcorrecting and rolling over on the interstate, near the town of Pembroke, about 40 miles east of Niagara Falls.
—Nic Anderson, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted
Adjective
-
As officers tried to determine if he was connected to the disturbance, Cusick allegedly became agitated and produced a firearm, Depue said earlier.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The phenomenon is caused by a chemical reaction the algae produce when they are agitated or disturbed — if they are grabbed by a predator, for example, or experience a surge of movement from a wave or swimmer.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
What's popular is appearing preoccupied, too busy scrolling on one's phone to look around—and too caught up with one's many friends to make any new ones at a mall.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Jihan peers closer at these images, now sensing in some of them that her father seems preoccupied, as if already aware of the tragic fate that would befall him.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The same woman who used to have fun behind her camera now seems sleepy, dazed, and even drugged.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Some seemed visibly dazed to suddenly be back in their homeland.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The incident caused a lengthy closure of southbound lanes of I-15 as the shooting was investigated, with vehicles initially being diverted to SR-163 on Friday evening.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
-
While the process looks different today, and much is diverted to more modern structures like shopping malls, water diversion in places such as Maui used to be laid out naturally flowing from the mountains to the ocean in land division called ahupuaʻa.—
Jessica Rendall,
Space.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
China's nuclear arsenal has especially alarmed Washington and its allies.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Yet more investors are growing alarmed by efforts by the current administration to oust members of the Fed board of governors for new appointees.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
As police secured the area with crime scene tape, distraught family members began arriving at the scene late Sunday night, according to police dispatch audio.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The mother thanked officers and ran from the apartment, distraught and inconsolable.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Wednesday confronts Bianca, who is bewildered about her Siren-song not sticking; Wednesday is taking control of things now and Bianca needs to trust her.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Layered in cream, bruised, bewildered, bald.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Daskalakis was disturbed by Kennedy’s comments that chickens that survive H5N1 bird flu are genetically superior and that the stronger children who get measles will survive.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On another job in an extravagant mansion, he’s disturbed by a loud noise upstairs.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share