distraction

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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

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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 The best companies recognize that such a myopic focus on the quarterly cycle is a distraction from building a great business. Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025 While technological advances enhanced the visual style, the storytelling remained sluggish, not helped by the distraction of a waxy-looking, digitally de-aged Bridges doing battle with his older self. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025 Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds My ADHD brain needs fewer distractions, especially in the air. Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025 This is the perfect week to ditch distractions and commit to systems that actually make life smoother. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraction
Noun
  • The very concept of combining social media with AI assistants caused confusion earlier this year.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • That confusion is further reflected by the manic hyper-subjectivity of Bronstein’s filmmaking, which boxes Linda into a close-up so tight that everything around her — especially her unnamed daughter, who almost never appears on screen — might as well be a disembodied echo of her own anxiety.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In the frenzy, per Science Daily, bones were put on view at the farm, and other artifacts later wre brought on tours with the Ringling Brothers show.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The Spotted Cow cult following — which paved the way for the brewery’s equally passionate Moon Man IPA frenzy — provides New Glarus with visits from locals and beer fans alike.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In Monica Hooper is an award-winning features writer specializing in entertainment news for Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2025
  • There’s also a covered front porch and second-story deck that can seat several people for outdoor entertainment.
    Katrina Cossey, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In addressing irreparable harm, Immergut said the state faced constitutional injury from loss of control over its Guard, operational harm from diversion of troops trained for state emergencies and public safety risks.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • That willingness to play fast and loose with history gained new momentum in the Monster series, the first two seasons of which made questionable diversions from the life of Jeffrey Dahmer and the saga of the Menendez brothers.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Scientists in Austria and France have developed a new imaging method that can reveal objects hidden behind opaque materials such as sand, fog, or even human tissue, potentially opening new frontiers in medical diagnostics and sensing technologies.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On July 30, investigators say a 53-year-old man went on a flag-burning rampage in Northside and Clifton.
    Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The press conference comes almost a week after Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, allegedly killed four people and injured eight others during his rampage before being shot dead by the two local officials who responded to the scene.
    Mason Leath, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The film takes place in 1954 almost exclusively over the course of one evening at a party thrown by the newly wed Hedda who wields literal and figurative weapons for her own personal amusement and potential financial gain.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The new security measures announced in May also included a requirement for minors to be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older in the ride area, but organizers announced in August that the 2025 festival would not have amusement rides.
    Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Our commerce writer Julia Harrison writes that her Moccamaster One Cup is a delight, principally because of its simplicity as a drip coffee maker—free of extraneous frothers or digital interfaces or timers.
    Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025
  • To my relief and delight, the firearm had not exploded in my face, maiming me for life.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraction. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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