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
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Recent Examples of distraction
No weapons were used in these distraction-style robberies, and no one was physically injured, however, the men stole thousands of dollars from people, before later being apprehended by state law enforcement that same month.
—
Christopher Derose, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Who would ever trust US diplomacy again if talks are used as a distraction for pre-planned attacks?
—Ron Paul, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
Try a slower pace for the first hour, and notice how patience steadies your focus and keeps distractions from running the show.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
The three-pronged structure, with its central plaza and slow-moving foot traffic, offers just enough distraction.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraction
Christopher Derose, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Who would ever trust US diplomacy again if talks are used as a distraction for pre-planned attacks?
—Ron Paul, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
Try a slower pace for the first hour, and notice how patience steadies your focus and keeps distractions from running the show.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
The three-pronged structure, with its central plaza and slow-moving foot traffic, offers just enough distraction.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraction
Noun
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While most associations have not encountered this situation to date, being informed and prepared will help prevent confusion, protect resident privacy, and reduce legal risk.—
Peter S. Sachs,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
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Some users have voiced anger at how the situation was handled, claiming that either Kalshi’s rules should have been communicated more clearly, or that its markets should have been more narrowly worded to avoid confusion.—
Terrence O'Brien,
The Verge,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The move is characteristic frenzy building from Fred, whose show Friday night will be the final performance of his USB002 tour that began last fall.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2026
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But the latest one, The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, already has fans in a frenzy.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Short flights, warm weather, golf, and entertainment made Las Vegas an attractive destination for Canadians.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Rather than focusing on the shiny diversions of loud spectacles, Americans might take a few moments this year to explore the parallels between our current condition and the detailed indictment of particulars that Thomas Jefferson laid out against the king of England in 1776.—
Edwin C. Yohnka,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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To demonstrate the district attorney’s alleged bias, the motion highlighted the examination of witness John Richardson, a Loyola Marymount University student from the Bay Area who was among the 13 arrested in 2024 but later entered a youth diversion program after pleading no contest.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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What sounds like a broadcaster’s signature was born from a son trying to reach his father through the fog of a degenerative disease.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
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Patchy fog may linger in the morning.—
Brandi D. Addison,
IndyStar,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All-American sophomore Sarah Strong came into the second quarter on a rampage, putting up 10 unanswered points by herself in less than three minutes after ending the first with just two.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
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The attack was Canada’s deadliest rampage since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that left another nine dead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The theatre of it all—the silly drama, the amusement—has survived the cross-country move gloriously intact.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
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The first Sentinel Sports and Travel show was held in the Milwaukee Auditorium for eight days in April of 1940, and offered every kind of amusement for the vacation seeker, fisherman, marksman, or dog lover.—
Elaine Rewolinski,
jsonline.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Speaking via Zoom with his father, Jim, sitting next to him, McKenna is engaging, affable and, frankly, a delight.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
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These plantain treats — bound to make French fries and onion rings turn limp and soggy with insecurity — are merely a weekly afternoon delight.—
Kalpana Mohan,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraction. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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