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
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
as in confounding
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracting
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
This all, of course, was not to distract from the center of her makeup look: a matte red lip.
—Essence, 14 July 2025
The legal fight threatens to distract from the group's goals in a state where Democrats already struggle to adequately field and fund candidates.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
Not only does ginger go with everything, but its spice comes from just the right angle to distract from the heat of the ethanol.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 July 2025
Steven was there for Conrad in that moment too, finding him on the beach hyperventilating and talking him out of the panic to distract him.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 July 2025
Ives had proposed that Tesla’s board step in to restrict Musk’s political activity, which Ives believes is distracting Musk from his main mission at Tesla and thus hurting the stock.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 July 2025
Based on our work with 1,500 financial institutions, here’s how lenders can approach modernization now to minimize interruptions to business while maximizing returns:
Pinpoint inefficiencies that slow operations and distract from delivering customer value.
—Eric Bierry, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
McClary was the shooter, while Todd Scott tapped on his passenger window to distract the young cop, records show.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.
—Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
For instance, many autistic people have a heightened sense of hearing, and loud noises, rattling sounds or even electricity can be distracting in the work environment.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Anyone who has ever worked on a movie set knows that the cast and crew dread the days when the studio suits show up, stumbling over cables, distracting the talent, and walking in front of the camera.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2025
By appearing at ringside and distracting Lee, Van Dam created an opening for Evans to secure the victory.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
But the choice to use CGI is jarring, distracting from the dwarfs' otherwise delightful introduction in the film.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
While the venerable actor remains one of our greats, his toggling back and forth between playing New York mob kingpin Frank Costello and portraying gone-rogue former buddy Vito Genovese ultimately proves distracting and is wholly unnecessary.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Two of them began arguing, distracting the guards, thereby allowing the third, who wore a trenchcoat, a fake beard, and a tweed hat, to covertly affix a painting to the wall using double-sided tape.
—Alex Scordelis, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
As the plant grows around it, the support becomes almost invisible and does not distract from the plant's beauty.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
This all, of course, was not to distract from the center of her makeup look: a matte red lip.
—Essence, 14 July 2025
The legal fight threatens to distract from the group's goals in a state where Democrats already struggle to adequately field and fund candidates.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
Not only does ginger go with everything, but its spice comes from just the right angle to distract from the heat of the ethanol.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 July 2025
Steven was there for Conrad in that moment too, finding him on the beach hyperventilating and talking him out of the panic to distract him.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 July 2025
Ives had proposed that Tesla’s board step in to restrict Musk’s political activity, which Ives believes is distracting Musk from his main mission at Tesla and thus hurting the stock.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 July 2025
Based on our work with 1,500 financial institutions, here’s how lenders can approach modernization now to minimize interruptions to business while maximizing returns:
Pinpoint inefficiencies that slow operations and distract from delivering customer value.
—Eric Bierry, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
McClary was the shooter, while Todd Scott tapped on his passenger window to distract the young cop, records show.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
Adjective
Occupying and distracting the mind.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.
—Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
For instance, many autistic people have a heightened sense of hearing, and loud noises, rattling sounds or even electricity can be distracting in the work environment.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Anyone who has ever worked on a movie set knows that the cast and crew dread the days when the studio suits show up, stumbling over cables, distracting the talent, and walking in front of the camera.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2025
By appearing at ringside and distracting Lee, Van Dam created an opening for Evans to secure the victory.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
But the choice to use CGI is jarring, distracting from the dwarfs' otherwise delightful introduction in the film.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
While the venerable actor remains one of our greats, his toggling back and forth between playing New York mob kingpin Frank Costello and portraying gone-rogue former buddy Vito Genovese ultimately proves distracting and is wholly unnecessary.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Two of them began arguing, distracting the guards, thereby allowing the third, who wore a trenchcoat, a fake beard, and a tweed hat, to covertly affix a painting to the wall using double-sided tape.
—Alex Scordelis, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting
Adjective
-
After a perplexing dream, Geron embarks on a quest to connect with his musically inclined son, Anthony, in hopes of creating music ice cream lovers–and the world—will love.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
10 July 2025
-
Riverside’s dissing of juries is even more perplexing given that California conviction rates in criminal cases top 60%.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
But the more puzzling sequences are offset by the mindless pleasure of destroying everything in your path, which is also a valid solution for many problems.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
1 July 2025
-
Some only require smacking a machine with a wrench, while others can be more puzzling at first — like rapidly hitting button prompts to kickstart a fire generator and tossing it into a frozen anomaly without setting yourself on fire.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, though Republican leaders dismissed the projection as inaccurate.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
4 July 2025
-
And finding those homes proved challenging because many records were missing or inaccurate — some handwritten on notecards dating to the early 1900s.—
Michael Phillis,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Amazon With a bewildering array of colorful smart lighting for any occasion, Govee is an affordable alternative to brands like Philips Hue.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
-
The number of color swatches and leather/fabric samples is bewildering.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Rumors the man lost a limb are incorrect, friends of the victim with Raw Surf posted on the business' Facebook page.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
8 July 2025
-
An online commercial real estate site, LoopNet.com, still showed the theater property as up for auction Thursday, but Robinson said the listing is incorrect.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
Why Amazon Prime Day scammers are winning and how to stay ahead While Amazon hasn't released a formal statement yet, the company maintains ongoing efforts to detect and remove fraudulent listings and suspicious domains.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
-
Republished on July 4 with further police and federal agency warnings that fraudulent callers are now targeting smartphone users in the U.S. This is not the FBI.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
This is a duplicitous, murderous regime that isn’t interested in dialogue.—
Danielle Wallace , Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2025
-
Michelle Wu’s duplicitous stunt demanding Freedom of Information responses from ICE is just the latest laughable Democratic tactic to stoke opposition to President Donald Trump’s deportation roundup.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
They are intended to reduce trauma to the scalp, may contribute to smoother recovery, and are designed to help achieve subtle, natural-looking outcomes.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
-
The accessory was a subtle nod to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, whose colors have been green and purple since 1909.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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