as in confounding
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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
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Recent Examples of distracting
William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The Living Room also extends outdoors to the rooftop Terrazzo Bar with views that are almost too distracting.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
The clutter is distracting, looks messy, and collects dust.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
Perhaps his most notable friendship is with loyal longtime bodyguard Bill Bray (Keilyn Durrel Jones) and, to a lesser extent, his savvy manager John Branca (Miles Teller in a distracting wig).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Friends or significant others may be distracting or stirring drama in the background.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Punk was taking off the tape from his hands and threw it onto the ring, distracting the referee enough to hit Reigns with a low blow.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Research suggests that having small talks with coworkers, while somewhat distracting, can improve your well-being at work.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2026
Also, consider banning visual displays by an attendee of anything other than the participant’s location – visual message displays, inappropriate background material, distracting behavior or inappropriate attire should not be permitted.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Choose a clean, non-distracting background that doesn’t compete with your mug for attention.
—William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
The curators supply a historical backdrop, therefore, but discreetly, and without distracting us from Wright’s poetic originality.
—Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The Living Room also extends outdoors to the rooftop Terrazzo Bar with views that are almost too distracting.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
The clutter is distracting, looks messy, and collects dust.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
Perhaps his most notable friendship is with loyal longtime bodyguard Bill Bray (Keilyn Durrel Jones) and, to a lesser extent, his savvy manager John Branca (Miles Teller in a distracting wig).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Friends or significant others may be distracting or stirring drama in the background.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Punk was taking off the tape from his hands and threw it onto the ring, distracting the referee enough to hit Reigns with a low blow.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Research suggests that having small talks with coworkers, while somewhat distracting, can improve your well-being at work.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2026
Also, consider banning visual displays by an attendee of anything other than the participant’s location – visual message displays, inappropriate background material, distracting behavior or inappropriate attire should not be permitted.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting
Adjective
-
Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Social Security benefits are funded by workers currently paying payroll taxes, meaning diverting today’s tax payments would affect today’s retirees.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
The expansion of vouchers is diverting resources away from neighborhood schools.—
Clinton McCracken,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Try taking 10 to 15 minutes each day to write out what's bothering you.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
2 May 2026
-
Yusei Kikuchi said throwing fastballs was bothering him again, so the Los Angeles Angels pitcher left Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox after two innings with left shoulder tightness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The whole situation was perplexing.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Our universe is full of mysteries, but few are as perplexing as the dark, tiny galaxies that hover around larger ones like the Milky Way.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
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In addition, local inland wetland agencies may have stricter regulations on planting, disturbing or controlling specific invasive plants in sensitive areas within their town.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
Remaining quiet and respectful increases the chances of observing bears in their natural habitat without disturbing them.—
Debbie Olsen,
Travel + Leisure,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
League sources have whispered since late October that Mosley’s job could be in jeopardy, and although Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman declined to make an in-season coaching change despite several puzzling lopsided defeats, the Magic announced Mosley’s dismissal Monday.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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However, the Echoes From the Past creators made the puzzling and terrifying artistic choice to have VR visitors ride outside the sub during the descent.—
Jordan Runtagh,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Midway through my massage, the boat unmoored itself and set sail—setting off an initially alarming vibrating bed and whirring engine noise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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