DISTRACTED Synonyms: 247 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'distracted' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of distracted are absentminded , absent , abstracted , and preoccupied . While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety. // was too distracted by grief to continue working

Q: When is 'absent' a more appropriate choice than 'distracted'?

The meanings of absent and distracted largely overlap; however, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters. // an absent stare

Q: When can 'absentminded' be used instead of 'distracted'?

In some situations, the words absentminded and distracted 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

Q: Where would 'abstracted' be a reasonable alternative to 'distracted'?

The words abstracted and distracted 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

Q: When might 'preoccupied' be a better fit than 'distracted'?

While the synonyms preoccupied and distracted 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

distracted 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈstrak-təd

Definition of distracted

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in dazed

suffering from mental confusion she's been chronically depressed and distracted since her husband's death

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

distracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of distract

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

as in alarmed

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy distracted by the looming tax deadline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word distracted distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of distracted are absentminded, absent, abstracted, and preoccupied. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

When is absent a more appropriate choice than distracted?

The meanings of absent and distracted largely overlap; however, 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 distracted?

In some situations, the words absentminded and distracted 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

Where would abstracted be a reasonable alternative to distracted?

The words abstracted and distracted 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 might preoccupied be a better fit than distracted?

While the synonyms preoccupied and distracted 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 distracted

Adjective

The driver was cited with distracted driving and failure to maintain a lane, and an internal investigation by MARTA has been launched, police said. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026 In the moment, however, Martins imbues tremendous intrigue through snippets of the seemingly distracted middle-aged driver, Wesley (Renato Novaes), and eventually, through the crash itself. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Sep. 2026

Verb

Adams also expects other aspects of professional sports to suffer, predicting coaches and staff members will be just as distracted by the new game. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026 My parents were tense and distracted while my siblings were scared. — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distracted

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted

Adjective

Pressed by a reporter on a Zoom call about specific players, Wade grew agitated and defiant.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
When the door finally opened, an agitated young man who resembled Ryan Gosling (Rett Keeter) shined an LED flashlight directly into my eyes, a gesture that would become familiar over the next hour.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitated

Adjective

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems more preoccupied with posting juvenile memes about the Canadian military than with the conflict.

— Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Many 9/11 first responders alive today feel as Sanchez does, more preoccupied with their survivor’s guilt than their own ailments.

— Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of preoccupied

Adjective

But the man simply stood there with a dazed expression on his face, swaying gently in the living room of their small, cramped flat, like a lone tree in the breeze.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Laiken Randolph appeared dazed, and possibly on drugs, officers remarked.

— Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of dazed

Verb

Flights were canceled or diverted, and airport operations were suspended.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Flight-tracking site flightradar24 showed all flights to Riyadh had either been diverted or canceled, with only a helicopter hovering over the airport at one point.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of diverted

Verb

The symptom that alarmed me most in that moment was the progressive skin wrinkling in some NCBRS teens.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Those moves have alarmed Japan, whose economy is dependent for its survival on open sea lines and which recently has been embroiled in a spat with China over remarks that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

In a move that had the audience distraught but should’ve been expected at some point, Guillermo and Witney are sent home Tuesday night.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
There were plenty of disappointed and angry members of Gator Nation on Saturday after Florida's surprising loss to South Carolina in Gainesville, but none may have been more distraught than a young member of Jon Sumrall's own household.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of distraught

Adjective

What appears before the bewildered trio is a boy with a face resembling a frog’s, named Fūsuke.

— Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
But Iñárritu’s caricatures become people in a way Kubrick’s don’t; as the bewildered President, for example, John Goodman is simultaneously grounded and theatrical in his presentation, recalling his best work with the Coen brothers.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of bewildered

Verb

Dead sheep and bears strewn along the pavement have disturbed local residents for years, but ecologists fear the road may also cause a much slower and quieter die-off, with mountain lions inbreeding as they are cut off from other lions.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
While the noise from the street would at times bleed into the living room, the bedroom was quiet, and our sleep was never disturbed by late-night foot traffic.

— Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbed

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distracted

distracting

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“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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