Synonyms of throw off

throw off

verb

as in to distract

to draw the attention or mind to something else

the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distract
• divert
• abstract
• detract
• call off
• amuse
• entertain
• wander
• stray
• beguile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• focus
• concentrate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of throw off

At $6,500 of daily volume, a 10% tax throws off something like $650 a day. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Some clubs have even moved players around age groups and positions in a bid to throw off interested parties. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

But too many mixed signals can throw off an opponent’s risk calculus, giving rise to misunderstandings that can produce or worsen a crisis. — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026

Those who adore Kurosawa’s unsettling earlier films may be thrown off by his new movie’s relatively muted approach. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026