1
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
in my distraction I forgot where I was
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frenzy
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion
driven to distraction by the constant screaming and bickering in the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in entertainment
the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public
the founder of a recovery program who doesn't view gambling as a harmless distraction for people of modest means
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in diversion
someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment
a harmless distraction for children at the playground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distraction
And when jet lag snarls your normal rest pattern, the window views and a cup of traditional Chinese tea awaiting each guest’s arrival become a pleasant distraction.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
Disney’s greatest asset is its dedicated fan base, and trying to gather them in one place and keep them engaged amid the myriad distractions would seem to be a sound plan.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Greg Fiume / Getty Images A year ago, Michigan fans were hopeful that the Wolverines were ready to move past their off-field distractions and enter a new era of stability with coach Sherrone Moore and quarterback Bryce Underwood.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 12 May 2026
And in a world of infinite choice and constant distraction, that kind of presence is rare.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraction
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
Disney’s greatest asset is its dedicated fan base, and trying to gather them in one place and keep them engaged amid the myriad distractions would seem to be a sound plan.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Greg Fiume / Getty Images A year ago, Michigan fans were hopeful that the Wolverines were ready to move past their off-field distractions and enter a new era of stability with coach Sherrone Moore and quarterback Bryce Underwood.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 12 May 2026
And in a world of infinite choice and constant distraction, that kind of presence is rare.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraction
Noun
-
Little ones who came out of the casket viewing with their parents wore expressions of confusion and shock after witnessing eight bodies that didn’t look so different from their own.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
Online reactions to the incident ranged from confusion to humor.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
While valuations for household-name series IP have come down to earth a bit since the frenzy around Friends, South Park and The Office during the streaming explosion several years ago, The Walking Dead rights will surely fetch several hundred million dollars.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
But there's a nostalgic and unexpected appeal to the bustling frenzy of a flea market.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The spa Indoor and outdoor pools here provide extra options for entertainment, and the patio’s sunbeds see a lot of attention, especially on weekends when rates often drop here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Throughout her career, the actor has deliberately chosen powerful, complex roles and founded the Geena Davis Institute to combat unconscious bias and increase representation in entertainment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors are asking a court to remove the driver who hit the trooper from the diversion program.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
-
State legislators can address these issues by investing in ages zero to five, continuing to pass bills to make housing affordable and buildable, avoiding further cuts to Medicaid and K-12, and stopping the diversion of tax dollars to private education.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The emotional fog begins to lift while feelings of hesitation fade away.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Legendary television executive Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), the managing director of Corinium, is on a rampage.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Among the various aspects of the movie that its English title refers to, not least is the unhinged rampage Lina unleashes at a couple of schoolgirls, a gringa loca on the razor’s edge.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The animal’s body was no longer treated as a source of sustenance or knowledge, but rather as a prop for amusement.—
Sam Zeveloff,
STAT,
9 May 2026
-
While the work’s English title might indicate a sense of amusement or distraction, the Chinese title is an idiom that refers to being caught in a dilemma, like a boat that has left one shore but has not yet reached the other.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Bourgeois-Tacquet’s elevator pitch — unforeseen circumstances lead Gabrielle, a workaholic 55-year-old surgeon, to question her life choices — isn’t exactly earth-shaking, and the film lacks the propulsive spontaneity that made Anaïs in Love such an off-kilter delight.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
On May 12, Colbert sat down with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Pedro Pascal and wound up kissing both of them on the lips to the delight of his studio audience.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraction. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
