as in confounding
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Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracting
William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026
Additional creature comforts also can be nice but distracting.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Protect your schedule from extra meetings and distracting notifications when possible.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
The smooth black leather and wood-look rubber soles are perfect for elevating your office attire without distracting from the rest of your outfit.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
The lens delivers clean bokeh with few distracting elements and no hint of false color, even when photographing subjects against complex backgrounds that include foliage, tree branches, and other potentially distracting elements.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
For virtually any other nominee this year, the choice would seem out of character, inevitably distracting, ultimately baffling.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
Watch this video to see how to hide ads and other distracting items in Safari.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Balances were a recurrent problem in the Prokofiev, and, with big and often distracting gestures, Kavakos didn’t always keep up with the soloist, the DSO’s excellent concertmaster, Alexander Kerr.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 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
Also, higher oil prices mean more income for Russia, and the war in Iran is distracting the world from Putin’s war in Ukraine.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026
Additional creature comforts also can be nice but distracting.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Protect your schedule from extra meetings and distracting notifications when possible.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
The smooth black leather and wood-look rubber soles are perfect for elevating your office attire without distracting from the rest of your outfit.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
The lens delivers clean bokeh with few distracting elements and no hint of false color, even when photographing subjects against complex backgrounds that include foliage, tree branches, and other potentially distracting elements.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
For virtually any other nominee this year, the choice would seem out of character, inevitably distracting, ultimately baffling.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
Watch this video to see how to hide ads and other distracting items in Safari.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Balances were a recurrent problem in the Prokofiev, and, with big and often distracting gestures, Kavakos didn’t always keep up with the soloist, the DSO’s excellent concertmaster, Alexander Kerr.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting
Adjective
-
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
-
The Eagles were a confounding defending champion throughout the regular season.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is diverting millions of barrels of crude to a port on its Red Sea coast, helping the world’s top exporter maintain some supplies.—
Arsalan Shahla,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
This marks the first example of a ship diverting from Europe to Asia during the current price spike, the firm said.—
Lee Ying Shan,Anniek Bao,Victor Loh,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mass incarceration has led to a fast-growing bloc of citizens who either are legally barred from voting or have just stopped bothering.—
Kevin B. Smith,
The Conversation,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Stop bothering me with things that don’t make sense.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Mamdani’s revenue estimates look realistic rather than usefully bleak; notwithstanding his perplexing series of revisions, the gap appears to be real.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The craze is perplexing to parents, but Bennett said the Hornets have embraced it to bring joy to young people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Shuttle buses often pause to allow passengers to observe animals without disturbing them.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
-
According to investigators, multiple officers were called to the gas station after reports of an intoxicated man who was disturbing customers.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With a bit of creativity and intention, even the most puzzling spots can become purposeful design moments.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
-
While stock markets have shifted firmly into risk-off mode, the bond market has had a puzzling reaction to some.—
Sean Conlon,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Recently, something new appeared on the landscape, alarming wildlife advocates like Christina Aiello.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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