as in distracting
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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Recent Examples of throwing off
But a number of architects and preservation groups provided their opinions of the 90,000 square foot project, generally characterizing it as way out of scale with the Executive Residence, the main part of the White House, while throwing off the symmetry of the grounds.
—
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Staff say the theft forced them to reshuffle routes, delay pickups and scramble to notify parents – throwing off entire school days.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Musgrove will have to progress to throwing off a mound to bullpens to live batting practice to likely minor league rehab games before the Padres can think about activating him.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Miler, currently dealing with lower back tightness, is scheduled to throw a side session on Wednesday after being limited to throwing off flat ground.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
This tasty herb uses its eucalyptus-like scent to confuse insects in the area by throwing off the cherry smell with something more pungent.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
In episode 9, the duo was hard at work picking whom to murder and throwing off the faithfuls from discovering their traitor identities.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
It's been a long road to (temporarily) throwing off all the trappings that make Guy Fieri recognizable as the pop cultural icon who won the first won America's heart in 2006 by winning the second season of The Next Food Network Star.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Less light exposure during the winter months shifts your biological clock, throwing off your hormones, mood, and sleep.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 20 Dec. 2025
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Staff say the theft forced them to reshuffle routes, delay pickups and scramble to notify parents – throwing off entire school days.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Musgrove will have to progress to throwing off a mound to bullpens to live batting practice to likely minor league rehab games before the Padres can think about activating him.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Miler, currently dealing with lower back tightness, is scheduled to throw a side session on Wednesday after being limited to throwing off flat ground.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
This tasty herb uses its eucalyptus-like scent to confuse insects in the area by throwing off the cherry smell with something more pungent.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
In episode 9, the duo was hard at work picking whom to murder and throwing off the faithfuls from discovering their traitor identities.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
It's been a long road to (temporarily) throwing off all the trappings that make Guy Fieri recognizable as the pop cultural icon who won the first won America's heart in 2006 by winning the second season of The Next Food Network Star.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Less light exposure during the winter months shifts your biological clock, throwing off your hormones, mood, and sleep.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 20 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throwing off
Verb
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Also, consider banning visual displays by an attendee of anything other than the participant’s location – visual message displays, inappropriate background material, distracting behavior or inappropriate attire should not be permitted.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Administrators found that without their phones, students were using school laptops for distracting activities like watching YouTube or playing games, rather than learning.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Middle East conflict has required diverting key systems from Asia.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
10 Apr. 2026
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State officials have relied on the practice of diverting all hazmat trucks off I-70 and over 11,990-foot Loveland Pass.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Throwing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throwing%20off. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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