distractions

plural of distraction
1
2
as in entertainments
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

3

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 distractions Guests still have to choose to browse, and in Las Vegas particularly, retail is competing for their time and wallet with restaurants, casinos, shows, clubs and an almost relentless number of other distractions. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 French doors allow it to be closed off from the rest of the house for times when privacy and freedom from distractions are needed. James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 There, there is no sunlight, no phone, no outside distractions. Kelefa Sanneh, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress. Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 The Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones treat you to immersive sound and adaptive Active Noise Cancelling to shut out ambient library distractions. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 With his name constantly in trade rumors, Ryan Jeffers is doing his best to screen out the noise and distractions. Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 That means putting distractions away and giving each other real attention rather than half-watching a screen while half-listening. Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distractions
Noun
  • Before the Lost Weekend, John and Yoko had their New York Year — turning their personal confusions into beautifully vivid moments of rage and pain.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Among the New Wave of American filmmakers in the mid-’70s, Spielberg and his friend George Lucas stood out as directors with ambitions to make old-fashioned popular entertainments.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 June 2026
  • Often, producers of these entertainments answer that question through music.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • These lavish retreats provided an escape from the city and the summer heat, a place for diversions like hunting and horseback riding, and enough land to build grand showpiece palaces and gardens.
    Rick Steves, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond the gates, the island offers a wealth of diversions, from golf at Apes Hill to trackside seats at the Sandy Lane Gold Cup.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • And fogs are closer to us than clouds.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 31 May 2026
  • Over-the-counter pesticides and fogs will not do the job.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Many travelers speed right by on their way to the flashy amusements of Kemah or Galveston’s sandy beaches.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 29 July 2026
  • Down a dark stairway is the murky world of Bronc’s Tack Room bar, a cavern with pool tables and the usual Stockyards amusements.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • There’s a nice localised touch via a railway footbridge on the approach depicting the highs of Southampton’s football history and the delights of the city centre, particularly Oxford Street, can be enjoyed before strolling on to the match.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The harvest’s fleeting nature means the window to catch these seasonal delights is closing, so pull up a seat before the season makes its inevitable exit.
    Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In the nearly 3,000 patients who donated their brains to science, the brains of those who took estrogen were less likely to show neurobiological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, such as beta-amyloid plaques or tangles of tau protein.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
  • An overabundance of the SORLA protein protected against a number of biological processes linked to the formation of tau tangles and progression of neurodegeneration.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • All the entries are highly personal, bracingly creative and audaciously inventive recreations of immortal standards familiar throughout the world.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The ad certainly succeeded in catching the eye of moviegoers and has remained part of the chain’s preview reel in addition to inspiring memes, Halloween costumes, and plenty of recreations.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Distractions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distractions. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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