distract

verb

di-ˈstrakt How to pronounce distract (audio)
Definition of distractnext
1
as in to divert
to draw the attention or mind to something else we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb distract differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distract are bewilder, confound, dumbfound, nonplus, perplex, and puzzle. While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.

distracted by personal problems

When might bewilder be a better fit than distract?

While in some cases nearly identical to distract, bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.

a bewildering number of possibilities

When can confound be used instead of distract?

Although the words confound and distract have much in common, confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.

the tragic news confounded us all

When is dumbfound a more appropriate choice than distract?

The synonyms dumbfound and distract are sometimes interchangeable, but dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.

was at first too dumbfounded to reply

When could nonplus be used to replace distract?

In some situations, the words nonplus and distract are roughly equivalent. However, nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.

the remark left us utterly nonplussed

When is it sensible to use perplex instead of distract?

While the synonyms perplex and distract are close in meaning, perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

a behavior that perplexed her friends

Where would puzzle be a reasonable alternative to distract?

The meanings of puzzle and distract largely overlap; however, puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.

the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distract When Dawson and his girlfriend left for work, Locklear remembers being distracted by her dog, who was barking. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025 Don’t get distracted by things that don’t actually matter to you. —Eric Roberge, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 To distract me from the bombs exploding around us, my grandfather described his former home and olive groves in what is now Israel, which he had been forced to flee in 1948. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 Don't be distracted by extra information (whether visual, computational, or otherwise). —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distract
  1. divert
  2. disturb
  3. bother
  4. worry
  5. concern
  6. alarm
  7. unsettle
  8. agitate
Verb
  • Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight were temporarily diverted from their destination after an incident with a rabbit affected the aircraft’s engine.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The fourth plane, Flight 93, was diverted and crashed in Pennsylvania.
    — Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of divert
Verb
  • This involved manually disturbing the leg and then releasing it, capturing the resulting oscillations on high-speed video.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025
  • What Is No-Till Gardening? Simply put, no-till is an approach to gardening that avoids disturbing soil in order to preserve its structure.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of disturb
Verb
  • Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow was popular enough that fans wanted a solo story, but the studio didn't bother to make it until her character was already dead in the major timeline, then skipped the theatrical release, which Johansson sued them about.
    — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2025
  • So much so that Gillaspie didn’t bother to even grab a towel last summer when a pitching coach yelled into the visiting showers to alert him that Triple-A El Paso manager Pete Zamora needed to see him.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of bother
Verb
  • Victims of car collisions may have more to worry about as insurance companies warn drivers to be aware of a growing scam involving tow truck companies.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Critics worry that other anti-democratic actors will be taking cues from Bukele to curry favor with this particular president.
    — David Catanese, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of worry
Verb
  • The incident report was issued Monday at 3:57 p.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Monday at 4:01 p.m.
    — Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The season went from concerning to disastrous under Van Nistelrooy.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of concern
Verb
  • 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
  • Are we supposed to be alarmed that team is falling apart?
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of alarm
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of unsettle
Verb
  • Place lasagna noodles in a 9- x 13- inch baking dish; cover with hot or boiling water to submerge and set aside to soak until noodles are pliable, about 30 minutes, agitating noodles occasionally to prevent them from sticking together.
    — Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
  • For instance, trust will be eroded when a person demonstrates a lack of temperance, which manifests as being agitated, impatient, inattentive, rash, and anxious instead of being composed, patient, prudent, self-controlled, and calm.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of agitate

Browse Nearby Words

distorts
distract
distracted
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Cite this Entry

“Distract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distract. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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