1
2
as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in confounding
Related Words
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 distract
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
In several incidents, officers said Peet Viljoen distracted employees while Melany Viljoen allegedly carried out the thefts at the self-checkout.
—Skyler Shepard, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for distract
Verb
Hang suet feeders away from the house, which may distract woodpeckers and keep them away from your home, says Pierce.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
In several incidents, officers said Peet Viljoen distracted employees while Melany Viljoen allegedly carried out the thefts at the self-checkout.
—Skyler Shepard, Sun Sentinel, 12 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
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
See All Example Sentences for distract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distract
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
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
Adjective
-
So when the aircraft suddenly stopped coming for nearly two weeks, the silence was both striking and deeply puzzling.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
With a bit of creativity and intention, even the most puzzling spots can become purposeful design moments.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What to do if your bill seems wrong Customers who believe their bill may be inaccurate should first contact Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504 directly to review the charges.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That assumption is grossly inaccurate.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.—
Kenan Draughorne,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2022
Adjective
-
The bewildering and unexplained switch over Halligan began when the Bar replied to a complaint against her filed by the nonprofit organization Campaign for Accountability.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
-
But even amidst so much bewildering bleakness, there are moments of beauty to be found in a new season, in a new revolution of the wheel of the year.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The statement came after Bloomberg reported that Oracle and OpenAI had dropped plans to expand the site, though Oracle said media reports regarding Abilene were incorrect.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
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He was charged in 2013 with tax fraud for filing an incorrect return tied to a Ponzi scheme operated by another man.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Transfers made after a dispute becomes foreseeable can be challenged as fraudulent conveyances.—
Ascend Agency,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Criminals look for confusion around tax rules, new programs or trending online advice and use that uncertainty to push fraudulent claims or steal personal information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distract. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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