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

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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
Choose a clean, non-distracting background that doesn’t compete with your mug for attention. — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Art of Peripheral Focus One of the primary challenges of a 270-degree projection is ensuring the peripheral imagery enhances the experience without distracting from the central narrative. — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 In the context of tens of thousands of DPS students who aren’t making gains quickly enough to ever meet proficiency levels, such fanfare is essentially distracting braggadocio. — Elaine Gantz Berman, Denver Post, 27 July 2026 Freeland resembles Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, drawing back the curtain that hides the smoke machine when the Wizard of Oz is not a wizard at all, but a carnival illusionist distracting the population. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 July 2026 Depicting that dress faithfully would likely be distracting to a modern audience and leave the film unmarketable. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026 According to a study by the American Automobile Association and Kurgo, 1 in 3 drivers are distracted by their dog while driving, and 2 in 3 drivers admit to doing distracting activities with their dog while driving. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026 The previous time the New York Knicks won an NBA Final, in 1973, in-game sound was basically unheard-of in basketball—too distracting for players and fans. — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 Low-cost drones are also increasingly being paired with high-end weapons to improve their effectiveness by distracting or overwhelming enemy air defenses. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 15 July 2026 Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have similarly distracting histories. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting
  1. confounding
  2. diverting
  3. bothering
  4. perplexing
  5. detracting
  6. disturbing
  7. puzzling
  8. alarming
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
Definition of confounding
Verb
  • An off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen fired at Williams as the incident unfolded, diverting him from the restaurant in an effort that likely saved lives.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Officials said both fired at Williams during what authorities described as a chaotic and fast-moving attack, diverting his attention from the restaurant as customers and employees fled.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of diverting
Verb
  • Hip still bothering Springs Springs lasted just four innings after issuing a season-high five walks, throwing 86 pitches — only 51% of them strikes — and gave up his 28th home run of the season, the most of any pitcher in the league.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Sharks already frequent Southern California beaches, usually without bothering anyone.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of bothering
Adjective
  • Despite a relatively long history of drive-through bans, the idea is still novel and perplexing to Californians who love their burgers and love their cars.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
  • For some, evoking death and sacrifice was perplexing and distasteful; a step too far.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 17 July 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
  • Harper’s left behind records detailing disturbing behavior that seem not to have been based in fact.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 July 2026
  • Out of competition The world of elite sports is taken to disturbing new heights full of brutality and painful ambition in the new film from Nikias Chryssos (The Bunker, Rave On, A Pure Place).
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • McAlister remaining unsigned has been one of the more puzzling offseason storylines for TCU.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2026
  • This is a little puzzling, as this should mean that stars are actively forming around it, but that isn't happening.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of puzzling
Verb
  • In Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County maintains infectious-disease surveillance and disease-reporting services for residents and visitors, which is exactly how local systems stay ready without alarming the public.
    — Luis E. Caso Vega, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
    — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of alarming

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Cite this Entry

“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on distracting

Nglish: Translation of distracting for Spanish Speakers

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