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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distract
Eating while distracted by your phone or the TV can trigger overeating.
—
Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
And yet, Majors’s press run suggests a distance between the actor and some of the film’s core elements—a blind spot that distracts from the work itself.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
Rudd can do it all: make a beard out of tape, help someone distract Kang, and barf.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
Just this week, Chinese auto giant BYD made headlines around the world by topping Tesla in launching time-saving EV battery charger technology, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk was distracted with his high-profile political role in Washington.
—Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distract
Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
And yet, Majors’s press run suggests a distance between the actor and some of the film’s core elements—a blind spot that distracts from the work itself.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
Rudd can do it all: make a beard out of tape, help someone distract Kang, and barf.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
Just this week, Chinese auto giant BYD made headlines around the world by topping Tesla in launching time-saving EV battery charger technology, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk was distracted with his high-profile political role in Washington.
—Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distract
Verb
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The trustees opposed have previously expressed concern that the financial incentives offered to Crown would divert tax dollars away from local governments and other taxing bodies, like the school district.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
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American Airlines flight to Tokyo from New York was diverted to Dallas, Texas for ‘maintenance issue’ Flight Aware data shows an American Airlines flight from New York City to Tokyo get diverted to Dallas, Texas on Monday after experiencing a maintenance issue, nearly 7 hours into the flight.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Indian Ocean is visible through the gardens’ palms, but beach access from the villas is purposefully obstructed—the resort’s way of making sure not to disturb the nearly 300 sea turtle nests lining the shore.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
3 Apr. 2025
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The medical team wheels the body out of the cabin under a curtain on a room service trolley so as not to disturb the passengers, then uses the flower shop walk-in freezer as a morgue.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
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Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.—
Jay Cost,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the night, Booker read letters from constituents worried about losing access to affordable health care, emphasizing that these concerns were not abstract but deeply personal for millions of people.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
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Musk ‘brand tornado crisis’ hits sales Analysts continue to worry that Musk’s actions elsewhere are hurting Tesla.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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They shouldn’t be concerned that their AI interactions might be monitored.—
David Gucker,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Greene quickly told Kelner to concern herself with the affairs of her own country, specifically a high migrant crisis in the UK.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Inspired by the urgent call from birth justice leaders and alarming CDC statistics showing Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
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Are we supposed to be alarmed that team is falling apart?—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Loomer’s Role in Firings: The firing of national security officials on the advice of Laura Loomer, a far-right agitator and conspiracy theorist, unsettled even some veteran Trump officials.—
Michael D. Shear,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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An ailing husband doesn’t unsettle the established dynamic of who manages the home — as women are typically pre-socialized to be the caregivers.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And in a highly personalistic international system, especially one agitated by undisciplined digital diplomacy, such a dynamic could take hold elsewhere.—
Michael Kimmage,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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As Mars agitates Chiron, ask yourself what scares you most: losing face or losing respect.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distract. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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