throw off

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

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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 throw off Manager Craig Counsell anticipates Taillon throwing off a mound Wednesday at Oracle Park so the Cubs can gauge how the veteran starter feels and then make a decision about his next start. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025 Videos taken on board the Carnival Panorama earlier this week show dishes sliding off tables in the dining room, water emerging out of an elevator, merchandise thrown off their displays and children screaming. Colson Thayer, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025 But make the wrong design move here, and this very element can instantly throw off the entire look and feel of your space. Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025 The motorcyclist was thrown off his bike, according to police. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for throw off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throw off
Verb
  • That will distract any views of the neighbors’ patios or houses that might linger until the shrubs fill in.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Some medications can help distract the brain, and those are usually tried first.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And major studios are making fewer prestige films of the kind that once used Toronto as a launching pad, preferring to divert more resources to action-heavy blockbusters and family fare.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Talk of bringing in the National Guard is less a solution than a distraction — a show of force that diverts attention away from the deeper investments communities need.
    Debra Gittler, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Throw off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throw%20off. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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