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
Without full accounting, required financial statements, annual audits, budget tracking and forecasting are thrown off and libraries risk spending money that’s supposed to be dedicated to pensions on building maintenance, Franco said.
—
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Because the images rotate at a screen-saver pace, my advice would be to focus on the preparatory drawings and cartoons, which are like sparks thrown off some great, beautiful machine.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The White House has been trying to focus on housing and other affordability issues for months to get ready for what’s expected to be a challenging midterm season for Republicans, but it has been thrown off course by a series of global issues.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The White House has been trying to focus on housing and other affordability issues for months to get ready for what’s expected to be a challenging midterm season for Republicans, but it has been thrown off course by a series of global issues.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The impact caused the 19-year-old to be thrown off the motorcycle, police said.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Hutson was thrown off the first two games in Washington, but then adjusted and left a positive impact on the series for the Canadiens.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
But state lawmakers estimate a quarter to half of current enrollees — as many as 40,000 people — would be thrown off the Medicaid expansion under the requirements in House Bill 913 and forced to find coverage another way, or go without.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Their dynamic is thrown off when Tung's character joins the group, per an official synopsis.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Because the images rotate at a screen-saver pace, my advice would be to focus on the preparatory drawings and cartoons, which are like sparks thrown off some great, beautiful machine.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The White House has been trying to focus on housing and other affordability issues for months to get ready for what’s expected to be a challenging midterm season for Republicans, but it has been thrown off course by a series of global issues.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The White House has been trying to focus on housing and other affordability issues for months to get ready for what’s expected to be a challenging midterm season for Republicans, but it has been thrown off course by a series of global issues.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
The impact caused the 19-year-old to be thrown off the motorcycle, police said.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Hutson was thrown off the first two games in Washington, but then adjusted and left a positive impact on the series for the Canadiens.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
But state lawmakers estimate a quarter to half of current enrollees — as many as 40,000 people — would be thrown off the Medicaid expansion under the requirements in House Bill 913 and forced to find coverage another way, or go without.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Their dynamic is thrown off when Tung's character joins the group, per an official synopsis.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrown off
Verb
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Portland couldn’t figure out how to pass off help assignments to deal with the downhill speed of San Antonio’s guards and wings, with the Blazers’ centers distracted on the perimeter.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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The report also indicated the driver of the black truck was not suspected of being on drugs or alcohol and was not distracted when the crash happened.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Traffic was being diverted, and drivers were urged to avoid the area and use Miami Gardens Drive, 183rd Street, as an alternate route.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
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Officers diverted traffic between Auto Mall Parkway and Doane Street onto Grimmer Boulevard.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thrown off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrown%20off. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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