abstracted 1 of 2

adjective

ab-ˈstrak-təd How to pronounce abstracted (audio)
Definition of abstractednext
as in preoccupied
lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions the man on the train seemed somewhat abstracted, and he did indeed forget to get off at his stop

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

abstracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of abstract
1
as in distracted
to draw the attention or mind to something else personal problems abstracted him so persistently that he struggled to keep his mind on his work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in summarized
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) took the 135-page report and abstracted it in three short paragraphs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abstracted distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of abstracted are absentminded, absent, distracted, and preoccupied. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

In what contexts can absent take the place of abstracted?

Although the words absent and abstracted have much in common, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

When can absentminded be used instead of abstracted?

In some situations, the words absentminded and abstracted are roughly equivalent. However, absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

When would distracted be a good substitute for abstracted?

The words distracted and abstracted are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

When could preoccupied be used to replace abstracted?

While the synonyms preoccupied and abstracted are close in meaning, preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

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 abstracted
Adjective
Larry Aldrich, the museum’s founder, visited Diamond’s studio in 1972 and subsequently acquired Untitled (1972), one of her early abstracted landscapes, and put it in a group show—marking her first museum acquisition and exhibition. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2024 The dialectic talk can feel a bit abstracted from politics, as can spotting Marx in every mention of equity. —Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
For a digital computer, time is thin, unidimensional, and abstracted away from its thermodynamic arrow. —Anil Seth, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025 The work instead appears to unfold in segments that are vaguely linear, with the plot of the Shakespeare play abstracted into moving tableaux. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abstracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstracted
  1. preoccupied
  2. distracted
  3. summarized
  4. diverted
  5. outlined
Adjective
  • Across multiple studies, the participants who disclosed their vulnerabilities became preoccupied with how they were perceived afterward.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The organization aims to bring together lovers of men’s fashion and tailoring, to promote more elevated dressing to the public, particularly those who have become preoccupied with athleisure, organizers say.
    — Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
Definition of preoccupied
Verb
  • Size of the Milan Ice Skating Arena rink Figure skating ice rinks are usually free of markings so that skaters can compete without being distracted.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
  • While Duque wants thrifters to understand that price doesn't equal value, Rodriguez warns shoppers not to be distracted by appearance.
    — Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of distracted
Verb
  • Mo Dakhil, a former video coordinator for the Spurs and Clippers, summarized that discontent in an appearance on Zach Lowe’s podcast this week.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The following is the five-day forecast for Broward and Palm Beach counties, summarized by AI based on information from the National Weather Service.
    — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of summarized
Verb
  • Four small planes were diverted by the Air Force after breaching restricted airspace around the stadium, but the aircraft were never considered threats.
    — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The revelation raised concerns about conflicts of interest in American foreign policy, especially given the scrutiny surrounding the US-UAE chip deal over worries the tech could be diverted to China.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of diverted
Verb
  • Savannah urged anyone with information to come forward as investigators worked against a looming deadline outlined in the note, which authorities have not publicly authenticated.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • From a binder on her kitchen table, Weaver took out a piece of paper that outlined her unusual arrangement.
    — Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of outlined

Browse Nearby Words

abstract
abstracted
abstractedness
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Cite this Entry

“Abstracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstracted. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of abstracted for Spanish Speakers

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