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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distract
Seraphina Seow, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Buy Now Jennette McCurdy Is 'Grateful Every Day' 1 Year After Sharing Childhood Stories About Abusive Stage Mother
07 of 07
'Matilda' by Roald Dahl
In this classic that birthed the 1996 Mara Wilson movie, Mrs. Wormwood is a bad mom in part because she’s distracted by watching television.
—Sarah Harman, People.com, 11 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for distract
Verb
These kinds of assumptions are distracting and can hinder the possibility for a friendship to form.
—Seraphina Seow, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Buy Now Jennette McCurdy Is 'Grateful Every Day' 1 Year After Sharing Childhood Stories About Abusive Stage Mother
07 of 07
'Matilda' by Roald Dahl
In this classic that birthed the 1996 Mara Wilson movie, Mrs. Wormwood is a bad mom in part because she’s distracted by watching television.
—Sarah Harman, People.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for distract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distract
Adjective
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His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him and the team on a series of intense, unexpected journeys to solve illogical puzzles and perplexing mysteries.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
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For economists, America’s organ shortage is a perplexing public health problem.—
Steven Levitt,
Boston Herald,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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Even more puzzling was the late move to bring in striker Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace to take up the second and last available Premier League loan, paying a large proportion of his considerable wages to boot.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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What may be more puzzling is how to stop the white-ball team from crashing and burning.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The impact could be inaccurate diagnoses, which could cost lives and break down trust in the healthcare system.—
Christian Espinosa,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Trump claimed the inaccurate poll violated consumer fraud protections; the Register is currently fighting the lawsuit in court.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some of them are earnestly engaged in helping parents navigate a bewildering time of life.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
5 May 2025
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Ireland is not our enemy, even if our president abuses it with his bewildering animus to free nations.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Common factors that contribute to misconfigurations include: • Human Error: Typing mistakes, syntax errors or incorrect command sequences.—
Alexander Britkin,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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That is the correct decision for her and her game, but also the incorrect decision for all of us at home watching a television program.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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The Act provides market players and investors additional mechanisms and avenues to seek redress and curb fraudulent digital asset activities.—
Abubakar Nur Khalil,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Back in the mid-1990s, when The Net was among the top box office draws and Americans were just starting to flock online in droves, kids had to swipe their parents' credit cards or find a fraudulent number online to access adult content on the web.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The characters are petty, duplicitous, conniving — and also, somehow, strangely sympathetic.—
Calum Marsh,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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Othello star Jake Gyllenhaal’s backstage home-away-from-home in Broadway’s Barrymore theater is an extension of the Shakespearean world he’s been steeped in while developing his version of Iago, the duplicitous ensign to the titular Venetian army general played by Denzel Washington.—
Charlotte Collins,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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With its strapless neckline, subtle side slit, and body-hugging silhouette, it was made for sipping cocktails under palm trees in Miami or dancing the night away in Barcelona.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2025
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For example, comparing transcripts side by side can reveal subtle shifts in a witness' narrative, prompting further scrutiny.—
Beth Worthy,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distract. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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