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
That is when Harbaugh will be able to crystallize for players like Cam Skattebo that football is the priority, and any outside nonsense that distracts from the goal of winning games is not going to be tolerated anymore.
—
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Reading chairs can become hotspots for clutter, which distracts from rest.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Investigators said one of the men distracts the victim while another watches the victim input their PIN on the keypad.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
But wrapping this lesson with an expensive animatronic and a pre-recorded show with a Hollywood insider distracts from that message.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
French’s focus on DEI efforts and Islam, some of his opponents said, distracts voters from the actual issues facing Texas’ oil and gas industry.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2026
Choose roof shingles that complement your home's architecture and exterior color palette, treating the roof as a subtle backdrop that enhances rather than distracts.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
Boardwalk trails zig to a marsh overlook, zagging back to a museum that pleasantly distracts the kids.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
Suicide is tragic, and prevention is essential — but not through research that distracts from the real risks facing NFL players and young athletes.
—Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Reading chairs can become hotspots for clutter, which distracts from rest.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Investigators said one of the men distracts the victim while another watches the victim input their PIN on the keypad.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
But wrapping this lesson with an expensive animatronic and a pre-recorded show with a Hollywood insider distracts from that message.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
French’s focus on DEI efforts and Islam, some of his opponents said, distracts voters from the actual issues facing Texas’ oil and gas industry.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2026
Choose roof shingles that complement your home's architecture and exterior color palette, treating the roof as a subtle backdrop that enhances rather than distracts.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
Boardwalk trails zig to a marsh overlook, zagging back to a museum that pleasantly distracts the kids.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
Suicide is tragic, and prevention is essential — but not through research that distracts from the real risks facing NFL players and young athletes.
—Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracts
Verb
-
The system diverts stormwater into a giant tank and then, at Fourteenth Street, pumps it out at up to three hundred and fifty million gallons a day, sending it on to the Newtown Creek wastewater facility.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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This diverts from the usual legislative process of amendments, markups and the like, which Huizenga told Newsweek was problematic for debt proposals in the past.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Leo moon disturbs unconscious patterns that are ready to be interrupted.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Removing nodules from the ocean floor disturbs the silty seabed that's home to many organisms, like worms and small crustaceans, the scientists found.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
His approach is to look at what bothers that person the most.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The political rhetoric aimed at ridiculing Canada bothers Johnson.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Minneapolis — Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement sparked global outrage earlier this year, constantly worries about being detained once again, his parents told CBS News in an exclusive interview.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In this sketch, a group of women worries about whether their husbands in the other room are getting along.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
LaCava said the change seems like another city policy that angers many residents without major impact.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
What angers me is thinking about what could have been.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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An unexpected visitor at the ER later unsettles both patients and staff.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Diana’s death unsettles both John and Carolyn in the series.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But then concerns about animal welfare rose, and the acute public-health risks faded.—
Rachel Sugar,
Curbed,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Such a topic is not governed by antitrust law, which concerns commercial activities.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracts. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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