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
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, the Carter administration was distracted by other global events: the Panama Canal crisis, the SALT II negotiations with Moscow, the Israeli-Egyptian peace talks.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2025
Have you been distracted while watching this season wondering When is Kahn going to show up?
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Investigators believe Kernodle went up the stairs toward Mogen's room, which could've distracted Kohberger, Gilbertson said.
—Kayna Whitworth, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2025
The federal jury held that Tesla bore significant responsibility because its technology failed and that not all the blame can be put on a reckless driver, even one who admitted he was distracted by his cellphone before hitting a young couple out gazing at the stars.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2025
After spending part of the day listening to Grateful Dead tracks and trying to distract himself, Ryan joined Correa, Jax and Varland on Thursday.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
He got involved in the match, distracting McIntyre and allowing Orton to capitalize.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Nothing distracts from the heat like a journey into a far-off fictional land.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 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
Listen for the signs Notifications, newsfeeds and WhatsApp groups are distracting you from making a difference with your work.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, the Carter administration was distracted by other global events: the Panama Canal crisis, the SALT II negotiations with Moscow, the Israeli-Egyptian peace talks.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2025
Have you been distracted while watching this season wondering When is Kahn going to show up?
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Investigators believe Kernodle went up the stairs toward Mogen's room, which could've distracted Kohberger, Gilbertson said.
—Kayna Whitworth, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2025
The federal jury held that Tesla bore significant responsibility because its technology failed and that not all the blame can be put on a reckless driver, even one who admitted he was distracted by his cellphone before hitting a young couple out gazing at the stars.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2025
After spending part of the day listening to Grateful Dead tracks and trying to distract himself, Ryan joined Correa, Jax and Varland on Thursday.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
He got involved in the match, distracting McIntyre and allowing Orton to capitalize.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Nothing distracts from the heat like a journey into a far-off fictional land.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 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
-
How the company hasn't bought AI start-up Anthropic is downright perplexing, to use the word of the day.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
4 Aug. 2025
-
To Boltzmann’s contemporaries, this was perplexing.—
Leila Sloman,
Wired News,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Even more puzzling is the UFC dropping a heavyweight who’s only 33.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
-
The firm then pivoted to focus on selling carbon credits, a puzzling, dramatic shift that Forbes chronicled two years ago.—
Stephen Pastis,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The president has also made inaccurate statements about certain BLS records.—
Isabella Murray,
ABC News,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The White House defended the president’s decision, suggesting the employment numbers and the downward revisions of the past two months were inaccurate.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Hilarious Theories Go Viral The bewildering encounter quickly went viral, prompting fellow Redditors to offer their own humorous theories for the stranger's behavior.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
-
According to the researchers, these bewildering clouds are likely the remnants of much larger structures that puffed out of the galaxy's center several million years ago.—
Brandon Specktor,
Space.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
One persistent issue is hallucinations, where the AI fabricates information that may seem plausible but is factually incorrect.—
Sameer Ather,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The Directors Guild of America has advised its members that the WGA’s position is incorrect, and that they may be contractually obligated to perform such activities during a strike.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Candidates flagged for fraudulent behavior had a 27% lower quality of hire than their honest peers, according to the same study.—
Michael Fitzsimmons,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Jones was charged with three felonies — theft of a credit card, criminal use of personal identification information, and fraudulent use of a credit card over two times within six months, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Balloon Boy hoax would seem to have all the right elements for a revisitation: a hapless, alleged victim (6-year-old Falcon Heene), sky-high danger (the balloon reached about 7,000 feet), daringly duplicitous parents (Richard and Mayumi Heene), and a national profile that gripped audiences.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
23 June 2025
-
Along comes Brian’s duplicitous ex-wife Debrah (Taja V. Simpson), his nerdy son BJ (Jermaine Harris) and the groom Zavier (Xavier Smalls).—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The sleeveless ensemble features a pink and yellow pattern with subtle baby blue and neon yellow accents.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The change was subtle enough that most legislators missed it.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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