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
Relevance
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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
distracted by the looming tax deadline
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of distracted
Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
So your kid is slightly more distracted than usual?
—Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 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
The Bay Area’s NWSL side could be playing in a distracted and disorganized fashion, what with the active investigation into Montoya and the coaching staff that is hanging over their heads.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
So your kid is slightly more distracted than usual?
—Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 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
-
The attacks against Musk’s Tesla vehicles have come against the backdrop of an already agitated electorate, who in recent weeks have heckled lawmakers at town halls across the country about the tech billionaire and DOGE.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
21 Mar. 2025
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Children may express anxiety by becoming distant, withdrawn, agitated, upset, or avoiding social contact.8 4.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
-
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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In suburban Denver, a mother has been left distraught after her husband, Venezuelan immigrant Jefferson Jose Laya Freites, was sent to the same prison in El Salvador.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
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Some were visibly distraught, crying or in a state of panic.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 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
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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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The patient’s toe had been amputated because of an infection causing unbearable pain and Dr Shaik, a neurology resident overseeing her care was worried.—
Hansa Bhargava,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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As the Trump administration makes major cuts to federal health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, some Alzheimer's experts are worried about research for the brain-impairing disease being halted, which could impact treatment options and the lives of patients and their families.—
Sara Moniuszko,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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