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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracting
William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Even without mixing and matching, simple gold hoops can offer a sleek and classy look that feels elevated and sophisticated enough for wearing to the office, celebrating milestones, and attending events without being distracting.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 10 Nov. 2025
Visual clutter can be just as distracting as a pile of junk strewn across your coffee table.
—Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
Karbler notes that Bigelow resisted that depiction for fear of distracting from the emotional moment.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Surprisingly, the injury helped him in this regard by distracting him from overanalyzing his game.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Perplexity’s image features photographs of people with some truly nightmarish distortions on its wall, while the placement of its sink is confusing and distracting.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
What Wednesday evening’s triumph also does is quieten the distracting outside noise that such a newsworthy club invariably attracts.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Drivers may also not want to wear the devices, which may be uncomfortable or distracting, the sources said.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
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 Democratic crackup that’s now underway in Washington is distracting the party from a series of brutal fights just ahead that will culminate in next year’s midterms.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Even without mixing and matching, simple gold hoops can offer a sleek and classy look that feels elevated and sophisticated enough for wearing to the office, celebrating milestones, and attending events without being distracting.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 10 Nov. 2025
Visual clutter can be just as distracting as a pile of junk strewn across your coffee table.
—Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
Karbler notes that Bigelow resisted that depiction for fear of distracting from the emotional moment.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Surprisingly, the injury helped him in this regard by distracting him from overanalyzing his game.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Perplexity’s image features photographs of people with some truly nightmarish distortions on its wall, while the placement of its sink is confusing and distracting.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
What Wednesday evening’s triumph also does is quieten the distracting outside noise that such a newsworthy club invariably attracts.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Drivers may also not want to wear the devices, which may be uncomfortable or distracting, the sources said.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting
Adjective
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What is the most confounding and terrible, however, is Gretchen’s assertion that Slade, the anti-Viagra, doesn’t get involved with the women on his own accord, but only engages because the women always talk about him.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The offense’s struggles are the most confounding.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In 1959, Prince Edward County, Virginia, closed its public schools for five years, diverting tax monies to build a K-12 private academy for 1,400 white students and allotting their families tuition grants.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Videos taken by witnesses show cars diverting and driving away from the scene after capturing the fireball that lights up moments after the crash.—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Played for comic relief, he is baffled by this son of his who attends college and, more perplexing yet, is suddenly obsessed with Italy and cycling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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The Packers’ offense already had several perplexing questions to answer after a dismal Sunday showing.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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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The 34-year-old appeared to have deactivated her X account after disturbing posts on her account resurfaced online.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
There was also disturbing evidence that violence had occurred there.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Here are five times what seemed like a harmless toy turned into a puzzling moment online.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The second flare is even more puzzling.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This isn’t in itself alarming in the moment, though such a narrow market often works against the duration of an advance.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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In a city home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel, Mamdani’s message has struck sharply different chords, galvanizing left-leaning activists while alarming many Jewish voters who view his words as inflammatory.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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