1
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
she's been distracted about her son ever since he left on that polar expedition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in preoccupied
lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions
the distracted driver rear-ended the pickup truck that had stopped for the red light
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
she's been chronically depressed and distracted since her husband's death
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in diverted
to draw the attention or mind to something else
we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside
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2
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracted
Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Who remembers the 2005 headline-making story of how Banksy snuck a painting into the Metropolitan Museum of Art disguised with a fake beard and trench coat, while two accomplices argued with a distracted security guard?
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2024
The bus once blew right past me because I was distracted by my phone and standing back from the curb.
—Liz Schubauer, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Adjective
But there are also shows where a distracted driver leads to a sudden accident.
—Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Who remembers the 2005 headline-making story of how Banksy snuck a painting into the Metropolitan Museum of Art disguised with a fake beard and trench coat, while two accomplices argued with a distracted security guard?
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
Basically—your brain gets totally distracted by a pop of red, ignoring wider details on your face like spots or texture.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2024
The bus once blew right past me because I was distracted by my phone and standing back from the curb.
—Liz Schubauer, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted
Adjective
-
While the crew was meeting to decide whether or not to turn the plane around, Augustin became more agitated and began punching and kicking the seat and passenger in front of him, the court document says.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
13 Mar. 2025
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As the teen grows increasingly agitated by Briony’s questioning, desperate to take charge of the conversation, the camera pans around the pair, giving the audience a feeling of cage-like entrapment.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Remember that kids may be too preoccupied at times to sit down and eat.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2025
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Volkov’s version has a more serious tone and is more preoccupied with the right morals and behavior.—
Christin Bohnke,
JSTOR Daily,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Case in point: his goal for Portugal Under-17s against Morocco in September 2023, a ludicrous solo effort that left a trail of dazed defenders scratching their heads and wondering what the hell had just happened.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Sea lions and dolphins have been observed rigid with seizures, acting dazed and confused.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Bauman offered an amendment that would have diverted the funding to street reconstruction and paving projects, and a city fund that helps first-time homebuyers with down payments.—
Tom Daykin,
Journal Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
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But any amount of traffic diverted should help the gridlock, the councilman said.—
Erin Couch,
The Enquirer,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Cleaning up the crash delayed the start by 15 minutes as a distraught Hadjar made his way back to the pits to watch the race unfold without him.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
17 Mar. 2025
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Alongside co-writing and producing, Graham also stars, the British TV icon giving yet another in a long line of towering performances, this time as the son’s distraught father trying to grapple with the how’s, what’s and why’s.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But the on-again, off-again nature of the process has resulted in a bewildered industry that has adopted a wait and see approach to investment decisions and supply chain alterations.—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
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Old Trafford was where distraught, bewildered fans felt physically compelled to go to express their grief.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The mineral can stay airborne for days once disturbed, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Jan. 2025
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The relationship quickly unearthed something that disturbed him.—
Joshua Kaplan,
ProPublica,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If the Yankees are worried about pitching, Kevin Cash isn’t with his Rays.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2025
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Former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore is increasingly worried about the ongoing plunge in consumer confidence.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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