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
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 June 2025
The internal policy seems to be to delay, defer, distract … and ultimately deny.
—Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 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
Unlike many in the industry, ACE is not distracted by charter services, maintenance programs, or management divisions—its singular focus is on brokerage, which allows the firm to deliver tailored guidance, real-time market insights, and white-glove service every step of the way.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 June 2025
The internal policy seems to be to delay, defer, distract … and ultimately deny.
—Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 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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What’s even more perplexing is that the brothers booked plane tickets to Boston for March 7, the day before they were found dead.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
28 May 2025
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Even more perplexing: If shutting off service to new customers without an account is their strict policy, why wait until Friday to execute it?—
Ryan Minton,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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But in 1997, theorists identified a puzzling exception: one particular mode appeared out of sync, an inconsistency that couldn't be explained by existing models.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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He’s pressed into service helping a detective (Salazar, Undone, Parenthood) solve her most puzzling cases.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Ortega also explained that her age makes people assume an inaccurate sense of naiveté.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
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But this is inaccurate as grid-scale storage batteries (BESS) can resolve this problem.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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In many ways, the deepfake issue appears increasingly Kafkaesque: a bewildering maze of shifting identities, elusive culprits, a tech bureaucracy sprawling beyond regulatory reach — and laws that are always lagging at least a few steps behind.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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And maybe David Bednar recaptures his old form and the Pittsburgh ‘pen proves as bewildering to opponents as the Tigers’ did down the stretch.—
Tim Britton,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The senators are incorrect three times, and surely more.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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But here’s the twist: both might technically be incorrect.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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On May 30, 2025, a Pennsylvania federal court refused NFL player agent Todd France’s request to vacate a December 2023 arbitration decision which ordered France to pay over $800,000 in damages to rival agent Jason Bernstein and which excoriated France for fraudulent conduct.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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The couple were convicted of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans as well as tax evasion and sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The rise of Darth Vader Anakin Skywalker discovers Palpatine's true identity as a Sith Lord and backs him instead of the Jedi Masters who intended to arrest the duplicitous chancellor. —As seen in Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
25 May 2025
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In scenes that take up so much more screentime than is strictly necessary, Ethan gets back on the trail of Gabriel (Esai Morales), the Entity’s duplicitous sidekick, who aims to bring it under his control once its plan gets underway.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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The family secrets were subtle but pervasive, reverberating not just through this nuclear family, but also across generations.—
Susan Walter
June 6,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
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The problem is that Flanagan—known for eerie but subtle horror films like Hush and Oculus and Netflix series like Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House—puts too many overly earnest quotation marks around what should be the most moving scenes.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distract. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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