distracting 1 of 2

adjective

as in confounding

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distracting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of distract
1
as in diverting
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 bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy distracted by the looming tax deadline

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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 distracting
Adjective
How to say no to all the distractions and everything that’s pulling at you in the most distracting era maybe in human history. — David Katz, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026 Choose a clean, non-distracting background that doesn’t compete with your mug for attention. — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
The sets have too many doors, the scenes have a delirious number of extras and the actors yell their lines over the distracting clatter of crackling fireplaces, beeping machines and ticking clocks. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 The text was crisp and easy to read, the matte display minimized distracting reflections, and the ink paper mode made reading comfortable. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 2026 According to Macallair, who has been working on juvenile justice reform for more than 40 years, any facility with more than 10 kids becomes unwieldy, distracting from rehabilitation and becoming more correctional. — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 25 Sep. 2026 Something about home or family could be distracting you in a way that’s clouding your read on your professional situation today. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 The result is a safer-phone category that already spans traditional feature phones, minimalist devices and smartphones that have been deliberately stripped of distracting features. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026 Schedule time away from distracting apps If certain times of day are your weak spot, Downtime can help. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Dumbphone tools work by making distracting behavior more inconvenient rather than relying on self-control alone. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026 Even a quiet voice can be distracting in an otherwise silent reading area. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting
  1. confounding
  2. diverting
  3. bothering
  4. perplexing
  5. detracting
  6. disturbing
  7. puzzling
  8. alarming
Adjective
  • Its study of dark matter and dark energy could also give scientists new insights into two of the most confounding puzzles in astronomy.
    — Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of confounding
Verb
  • All seemed right in the world until 2008, when Cook discovered that McCauley had been diverting funds for years, forging bank statements and checks and making large withdrawals.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The bill calls for diverting 60% of the city's garbage from landfills and incineration over the next 20 years.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of diverting
Verb
  • The goal is not to solve what’s bothering you but to let the thoughts move through.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Lane Kiffin will stroll off the LSU bus later this afternoon, acting as if none of the noise is bothering him.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of bothering
Adjective
  • Not Kendall, nor Candle, but a third, even more perplexing name for a dog.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The moves to offload Dejan Joveljic and part with Manu Garcia were perplexing.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of perplexing
Verb
  • An expansion into New Mexico would add oil revenue from the Permian Basin to Texas, adding to its economy and detracting, in turn, from New Mexico's.
    — Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Some asserted that the commitment and costs of traveling and attending meetings paired with the limited compensation was detracting members of the public from running for office.
    — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of detracting
Verb
  • By mimicking the oarfish’s fluid control, Shepherd’s team aims to construct large, silent robotic monitors capable of observing fragile ocean ecosystems without ever disturbing the wildlife inside them.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Baldwin alleged that decision was just one part of a pattern of disturbing prosecutorial abuses, including presenting false information to the grand jury, failing to disclose two firearms reports, and filing an unlawful gun enhancement.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • The details of the case were so puzzling as to be almost unbelievable, certainly unsolvable.
    — Steve Belanger, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Roman’s catalog of galaxies will help scientists ascertain how quickly the universe is expanding due to these puzzling, unseen forces.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of puzzling
Verb
  • But the Treasury market’s rapid deterioration is now alarming those who previously downplayed the risks.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The constant delay-of-game calls, false starts and inability to get lined up are a special level of alarming for a quarterback who entered the NFL 10 years ago.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of alarming

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distracting
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Cite this Entry

“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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