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
William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Clutter acts like visual noise, distracting your brain and leaving you feeling scattered.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Rather than distracting from the acting, the animation also only enhances the heightened emotions of adolescence.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracting
Verb
Choose a clean, non-distracting background that doesn’t compete with your mug for attention.
—William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
The whole idea is to choose something that isn't too distracting.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Clutter acts like visual noise, distracting your brain and leaving you feeling scattered.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Swift's appearances also brought an onslaught of criticism from male fans, who were mad that her presence was distracting from the game.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Rather than distracting from the acting, the animation also only enhances the heightened emotions of adolescence.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracting
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
Adjective
-
On its face, this behavior is perplexing, presumptuous even.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Quantum mechanics was originally formulated to explain and predict the perplexing behaviors of atoms, molecules and subatomic particles.—
Zhixin Wang,
The Conversation,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And perhaps the most puzzling question — why is Mark Wahlberg a movie star?—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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Another puzzling result dipped the Green Bay Packers to +750, good for third in the odds.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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By state law, attorneys general can only alter or withdraw their opinions if state law changes and renders the opinion inaccurate, or a public court finding has the same effect.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Oct. 2025
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As gaming becomes a more mainstream activity, however, these stereotypes grow more archaic, and a new study from the Entertainment Software Association suggests that the universal image of a gamer as a lonely young male is not just outdated, but inaccurate.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The bewildering story of John Bender, a young Wall Street genius whose dream of life in a mansion sanctuary in the Costa Rican jungle turned sour, is set to launch as a podcast.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
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This affair is just another example of Adam’s bewildering emotional immaturity.—
Sarah John,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Boxer, a co-editor of the new book The Future of Youth Violence Prevention, insists that the larger premise of youth violence increasing is incorrect, as a variety of indicators indicate the overall problem in aggregate is on a steady decline over the last several years.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
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The letter said the school district restructured its bonds, similar to refinancing a mortgage, and stated the city’s figure of $14 million in state funds was incorrect.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In audits by Guardio, Comet was tricked into making fraudulent purchases from fake sites—completing entire checkout flows without human verification.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
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Today’s legislation protects both animals and Californians by addressing fraudulent pet breeding and selling practices.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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