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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of distract
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
With the new fault rule, defense teams for trucking companies may argue that the injured driver shared significant blame by braking suddenly, making an unsafe lane change or being distracted.
—
Matthew Kayser,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
William Arruda,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Dahlia Gallin Ramirez,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
Reid plays this so well, but the direction is a little over the top, with drug-trip visuals that are too distracting to follow the dense-as-ever disjointed narration.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distract
Verb
The Sheriff's Office said that the initial reports indicated the lifeguard may have been distracted at the time.
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Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
With the new fault rule, defense teams for trucking companies may argue that the injured driver shared significant blame by braking suddenly, making an unsafe lane change or being distracted.
—
Matthew Kayser,
Miami Herald,
25 June 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 formal obligation to bow or curtsy will force targets to bend a knee and break eye contact—a perfect opening for the President to place something distracting like a Twix bar on their heads.
—
Dahlia Gallin Ramirez,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
Reid plays this so well, but the direction is a little over the top, with drug-trip visuals that are too distracting to follow the dense-as-ever disjointed narration.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distract
Verb
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The California Highway Patrol's Woodland division said traffic was being diverted off the freeway at Reed Avenue.
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Bessent did not specify how much money would be released, which entity in Qatar would control the account, where the funds would be held, what role Iran would play in directing purchases or what enforcement tools the Treasury would use to ensure the money is not diverted.
Verb
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The golf practice center would disturb an already fragile ecosystem with a high water table, the board wrote.
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Gorsuch said the opinion was narrow and did not disturb other provisions of the law, which includes a ban on guns for drug addicts, ban on guns for people presently intoxicated and prohibition of firearms for those deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Verb
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While some of the wives wouldn’t bother coming to games every Sunday, Michel said, many of the children saw the Feeney fathers as proper heroes.
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His pace routinely bothered Sweden, including on one impressive solo run in the first half that produced a quality attacking scenario.
Verb
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But prosecutors said their further investigation raised significant doubts about those conclusions, worrying them that a jury would not find Hobby guilty of an arson charge.
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Some academic leaders worry that the report might drive students away from programs that encompass the core of human knowledge.
Verb
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On Election Day, Schlossberg was campaigning out in the rain despite the concerning polls, hearing stories from passersby about their Kennedy encounters over the years and taking selfies with starstruck supporters.
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One of the increasingly concerning threats is drones, which can be piloted remotely and are difficult to disable.
Verb
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The bill’s impact on the massive pension system alarmed CalPERS’ staff, who estimated that premiums would increase by over $28 a month per member in the first year of the bill.
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So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
Verb
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One concern is parents of autistic children, who often have gastrointestinal issues, though the science linking those issues to autism is unsettled.
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Warner offers little comfort to executives unsettled by last week’s events.
Verb
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Allow room for your items to move freely and to be agitated.
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After that, the day shift starts agitating for a pizza party.
Cite this Entry
“Distract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distract. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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