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
Your schedule, routines or work environment could feel especially chaotic today, with interruptions throwing off your modus operandi and usual sense of control.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Otherwise, there was little evidence of factors that might be throwing off the results.
—ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026
The Hudson Yards area is throwing off cash.
—Peter Peyser, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
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
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Otherwise, there was little evidence of factors that might be throwing off the results.
—ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026
The Hudson Yards area is throwing off cash.
—Peter Peyser, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throwing off
Verb
-
Thankfully, The Great American Baking Show has two devilishly distracting hosts at hand to make sure the participants are juggling as many plates as possible.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
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Shooting in the real homes, clubs and neighborhoods that birthed these characters strips away distracting artifice, allowing the slowburn emotional stakes to take over.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has also vowed to prevent LA28 from diverting money to a Legacy Fund before reimbursing Los Angeles for all expenses.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
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The show’s studio, 20th Television Animation, kept the annual output relatively steady, diverting the surplus episodes to its streaming platforms.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Throwing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throwing%20off. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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