as in distracted
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 thrown off
Neuroscientists are only scratching the surface of what happens when the networks are thrown off balance, but the work could lead to more treatments to fix them, Cembrowski said.
—
Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
The Europeans are far too mentally tough to be thrown off their game.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Alex feels welcomed in this new town, but is immediately thrown off kilter by the intimacy among neighbors in Tall Pines.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
The balance of that can get quite thrown off.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Without it, in theory, the player might feel thrown off or less secure in their serve, which, in turn, could affect the trajectory of the point (and potentially the game, and then the set, and then the match, because in tennis, it all snowballs.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 5 Sep. 2025
Perhaps there’s something salutary about being thrown off-balance, the novel suggests.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 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
The motorcyclist was thrown off his bike, according to police.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2025
Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
The Europeans are far too mentally tough to be thrown off their game.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Alex feels welcomed in this new town, but is immediately thrown off kilter by the intimacy among neighbors in Tall Pines.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
The balance of that can get quite thrown off.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Without it, in theory, the player might feel thrown off or less secure in their serve, which, in turn, could affect the trajectory of the point (and potentially the game, and then the set, and then the match, because in tennis, it all snowballs.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 5 Sep. 2025
Perhaps there’s something salutary about being thrown off-balance, the novel suggests.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 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
The motorcyclist was thrown off his bike, according to police.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrown off
Verb
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Items Made of Quality Materials Stephanie Wells recommends not getting distracted by looking for a particular type of item while thrifting but instead keeping your eyes open to a number of quality materials.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
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Prosecutors told the jury not to be distracted by these arguments, that the broader picture clearly showed who was at the center of these killings.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The munition can also be diverted mid-flight if battlefield conditions change — a feature that commanders say minimizes collateral damage and protects soldiers.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
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All traffic on that section of I-35E was being diverted to Oak Lawn Avenue.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thrown off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrown%20off. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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