distractions

Definition of distractionsnext
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 The adaptive noise cancellation automatically adjusts to your environment to silence distractions, and the four digital beamforming microphones keep your voice crystal clear during calls, even in windy outdoor conditions. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026 The media landscape and voter engagement have fundamentally shifted since 1998, with Californians less tuned into the gubernatorial race than in previous generations due to competing national and international distractions. Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026 On the trail, there were no distractions from the inevitable conflicts that arose. David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026 Its stories are centuries old – yet they are recited by many Nepalis every winter, even as the daily recitation now competes with many modern distractions, such as smartphones and social media. Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026 There are times when distractions may come from something like eating instead of using a smartphone or another electronic device. Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026 Kansas’ public officials should avoid the distractions of petty prejudices and focus on representing all their citizens. Darren Rosenblum, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026 If distractions call, consider setting up an accountability check-in with a peer or family member. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2026 For, as a result of the centrality of these primaries, the races have thrown up all manner of distractions. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 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
  • The party was a most enjoyable dance, typical of the charming informal entertainments for which the club is noted.
    From staff reports, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Television, which greeted the new year with fresh entertainments of all shapes and sizes.
    Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Miami Music Week is at its zenith this weekend, its cacophonous diversions and decibels aimed at the spring break crowd and other ears that haven’t been around for very long, highlighted by the DJ bonfire known as Ultra Music Festival.
    Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Friday’s draft decision includes new caveats suggested by the State Water Board limiting water diversions from the Delta to 986,000 acre-feet and requiring the project to align with Bay-Delta planning rules to protect fisheries.
    Chaewon Chung March 23, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Barresi and Cuellar hold each other up with palpable tenderness, each one crafting a long, poignant arc from innocence through the fogs and thorns of experience.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • There's a mix of on-the-beach relaxation (which is also pet-friendly) and off-the-beach amusements, such as go-kart tracks, a handful of mini-golf courses, a number of ice cream shops, and good restaurants.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
  • That will keep the rest of us from footing the bill for their part-time seaside amusements.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • As the city blooms with hundreds of thousands of Yoshino cherry trees, indulge in speciality, mouthwatering delights at participating eateries.
    Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
  • One of the great delights of the series is getting to see Pfeiffer so frazzled.
    Jada Yuan, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • To him, the vision seemed right — not in the specific locations activated by various themes but in the sense that our neuroanatomy did seem to parse the world by subject, tangles and folds of neurons lighting up in response to clouds of ideas.
    Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Chapek’s woes as Disney chief have been well documented, from his tangles in Florida to an ugly public spat with Scarlett Johansson to alienating top executives by removing creative decision-making authority in a hugely unpopular restructuring.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This sense of domestic insecurity carries through the remaining two-thirds of the film, which incorporates doubles, cyborgs, and holographic recreations of the film’s female characters.
    Katie Rife, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 2026
  • The exhibition also includes life-size recreations of areas of the ship intended to show what daily life was like on board for passengers across different classes.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distractions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distractions. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on distractions

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster