1
2
as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in confounding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in diverting
to draw the attention or mind to something else
we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distract
Jenna Ryu, SELF, 3 Feb. 2025
Point Reyes abounds with treasures, from a shipwreck-laden cove to a surprising number of herding cows—which can be easily distracting, so watch the roads!
—Katie Kiefner, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025
Ellen Choi, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Haynes relies on photographs, clips from tangentially relevant ephemeral films and soundless remnants shot by mentor/facilitator Andy Warhol, a strategy that can be distracting and rewarding in turns.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distract 
Verb
For those moments out of your control, both experts recommend having a game plan to redirect your energy, ideally into something that soothes and distracts you.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 3 Feb. 2025
Point Reyes abounds with treasures, from a shipwreck-laden cove to a surprising number of herding cows—which can be easily distracting, so watch the roads!
—Katie Kiefner, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
What emotion is social media distracting users from feeling?
—Ellen Choi, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Haynes relies on photographs, clips from tangentially relevant ephemeral films and soundless remnants shot by mentor/facilitator Andy Warhol, a strategy that can be distracting and rewarding in turns.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distract
Adjective
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Every little facet of their lives becomes a perplexing anthropological study, an affirmation to older people that youth is wasted on the young.—
Alex Abad-Santos,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
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Equally perplexing, the president’s tax plan ignores the well-being of these same families and their children.—
Bruce Fuller,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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What’s puzzling is that, in both of these severe cases, the virus was not related to the virus that is circulating in cattle.—
Lisa M. Krieger,
The Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2025
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Maybe the most puzzling part of this trade is Chicago’s role in all of it.—
James Mirtle,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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All these terms do is reduce Black experiences into inaccurate archetypes and further devalue the Black roots of countless genres.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
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Scenes can have the power to mislead us into an inaccurate view of what typically happens.—
Joshua Rothman,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sterling is both a blank slate, a character beginning a new phase of his life, and someone who’s facing a bewildering number of options, including sticking around, leaving town or returning to a life of crime.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 Feb. 2025
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That car heist unleashed a bewildering series of encounters.—
Todd Miller, contributor,
CNBC,
3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Many of those who have lost insurance missed form deadlines or had an incorrect address, while others no longer met the eligibility criteria.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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Wednesday's edition included incorrect information about King's votes.—
Tony Holt,
arkansasonline.com,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Often fraudulent communications claiming to be from the IRS or associated individuals can have typos or other mistakes in them, but with artificial intelligence, these communications are more sophisticated and scams can be harder to spot.—
Cheryl Winokur Munk,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2025
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According to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, at least 200 teachers were falsely certified as part of the conspiracy, via over 400 fraudulent tests, with the scheme dating back to at least May 2020.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While offenses have learned to use every second, defenses are also taking advantage of the extra time, primarily through duplicitous presentations and audibles in response to offensive calls.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
5 Feb. 2025
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Much like the play it’s adapted from, Were the World Mine is hazy, romantic, duplicitous and delightful.—
Sadie Collins,
Them,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Silicon Valley Workers Quietly Protest: As Mark Zuckerberg and other tech titans have embraced President Trump and muffled internal dissent at their companies, their mostly left-leaning employees have objected with subtle acts of defiance.—
Mike Isaac,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2025
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Barrett, a scruffy 34-year-old with a subtle surfer drawl, launched Almost Friday with his younger brothers, Max, 33, and Sam, 28.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Distract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distract. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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