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
-
Don’t get distracted by your phone, but stay alert for what’s ahead.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
More than one-third of US workers (36%) identify as a Swiftie—and are likely to be distracted when Taylor Swift releases her 12th studio album, according to new data.—
Kristen Parisi,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sheriff’s officials said drivers were being diverted onto Old Julian Highway.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
-
In a similar incident that took place earlier this year, a 67-year-old woman reportedly died on an easyJet flight, causing the plane to be diverted mid-air.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thrown off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrown%20off. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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