1
as in diverts
to draw the attention or mind to something else
we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disturbs
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracts
Mother’s explosion distracts Blaine and frees Sam.
—
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 22 May 2026
In my view, platforming these young men and sensationalizing their behaviors, rather than recognizing those behaviors as signs of psychological distress, distracts from the urgent need to address these serious mental health concerns.
—Jordyn Tovey, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
Its artificial-looking color often distracts from the landscaping.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
Their romance distracts Berlin, who is usually focused and more emotionally detached.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 15 May 2026
Trump is renowned for his transanctionalism and willingness to deal with anybody if the dollar signs are there, but, when immigrants are involved, his interest in exclusion distracts him from the bottom line.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
We are told that raising these questions distracts from the issues that matter, such as rising costs, persistent crime and the condition of our city.
—Mark Conway, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
Or maybe a still-working phonograph of Edison’s invention distracts you, until a wall of portraits of 1920s electrical manufacturing workers pulls your gaze in a new direction.
—Michael Kilian, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Morgan concluded the practice, completing another one of Chesney’s specialties where the entire team distracts the return man from fielding a punt.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 22 May 2026
In my view, platforming these young men and sensationalizing their behaviors, rather than recognizing those behaviors as signs of psychological distress, distracts from the urgent need to address these serious mental health concerns.
—Jordyn Tovey, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
Its artificial-looking color often distracts from the landscaping.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
Their romance distracts Berlin, who is usually focused and more emotionally detached.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 15 May 2026
Trump is renowned for his transanctionalism and willingness to deal with anybody if the dollar signs are there, but, when immigrants are involved, his interest in exclusion distracts him from the bottom line.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
We are told that raising these questions distracts from the issues that matter, such as rising costs, persistent crime and the condition of our city.
—Mark Conway, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
Or maybe a still-working phonograph of Edison’s invention distracts you, until a wall of portraits of 1920s electrical manufacturing workers pulls your gaze in a new direction.
—Michael Kilian, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Morgan concluded the practice, completing another one of Chesney’s specialties where the entire team distracts the return man from fielding a punt.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracts
Verb
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Like the lives of the characters who comprise Weinstein’s mosaic, the music is both lovingly intricate and all too easy to ignore when the algorithm diverts our attention elsewhere.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
8 June 2026
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And focusing on Marilyn and a bathing suit, and calling that exploitation sort of diverts the conversation away from where she actually was exploited.—
Julian Sancton,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The pier in Michigan City’s Washington Park disturbs the natural flow of sand along the lakeshore, creating new land east of the pier but starving beaches to the west, an erosion problem repeated by other manmade structures that jut out into Lake Michigan.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
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Regardless, there’s a clear symbolism to Clark empathizing and embracing a bloated externalization of his own inchoate fury until someone with an outside perspective disturbs his peace, and that fury breaks loose and devours him.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
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If the expansion detracts somehow from the SARA cult fever, the co-owners are OK with that.—
Senior Wine Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
15 June 2017
Verb
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People can decide for themselves whether Wembanyama’s anthem conduct bothers them.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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But one Iowa departure bothers Ferentz the most, and that’s defensive tackle Noah Shannon.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Rebecca worries about her husband, whose work as a mechanic can be dangerous.—
Andrew Jones,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Greene worries that rising prices and the disappearance of mass-market paperbacks could create a future where fewer readers take chances on unfamiliar authors.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Verb
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In all, PayPal Park is allowed to host as many as 15 concerts a year, a number that delights some live music fans and angers those in the neighborhood who are concerned about the noise that these shows will generate.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
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Becerra has received a lot of support from Big Oil, which also angers progressives but is also probably a good thing since California still needs a lot of oil.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
31 May 2026
Verb
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That is precisely the capability that unsettles underwriters, because an agent that can decide is an agent that can decide wrongly, and fast.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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But Hyd unsettles this arrangement with their deadpan affect, playing the part of a mourning truth-seeker trying to live in the moment.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Heuermann has been a voracious reader in jail, but Toulon said the inmate’s preference for violent crime and mystery novels — some about serial killers — concerns him.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
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The alleged threat is portrayed as undermining First Amendment protections for freedom of association, which concerns the ability of groups to engage in expression and group activities without government interference.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracts. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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