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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
she's been chronically depressed and distracted since her husband's death
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distracted
John Samuels, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Jennifer Ehle is Balthazar’s distracted socialite mother; Noah Centineo is his life coach.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Others said the changes have distracted Target from basics such as consistent stocking of groceries and having a balanced mix of national brands alongside its private labels.
—Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Adjective
Parents may spend enormous energy worrying about rare vaccine complications while paying far less attention to childhood obesity, chronic sleep deprivation, social isolation or distracted driving — all of which are vastly more likely to shape long-term health outcomes.
—John Samuels, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Jennifer Ehle is Balthazar’s distracted socialite mother; Noah Centineo is his life coach.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Verb
Williams defended the United States Championship against Sami Zayn as the challenger was distracted by Lil Yachty during the match.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Others said the changes have distracted Target from basics such as consistent stocking of groceries and having a balanced mix of national brands alongside its private labels.
—Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted
Adjective
-
This tiny bird was alone and agitated.—
Lisa Hughes,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Unproductively, in the confines of the smaller-scale Fyda-Mar stage, the discordant sensory barrage director Oanh Nguyen brings to bear landed on at least one theatergoer as an agitated, irritating distraction.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The property, which sits on three and a half acres in Wilton, Connecticut, had been owned for more than five decades by the president of a regional hosta society who was mostly preoccupied with the landscaping.—
Wendy Goodman,
Curbed,
16 May 2026
-
Sometimes someone’s sullen or preoccupied or way too wound up.—
Risa Polansky Shiman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
As more miners turn up dead, Cher, a dazed young woman appears, seductive, ravenous and out for blood.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
-
Emotions boiled over earlier in the period after Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven crushed Hurricanes counterpart Alexander Nikishin with a huge hit that left the Russian dazed and needing help off the ice.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of remitting those taxes to the IRS, prosecutors alleged Kapoor diverted over $2 million from company accounts for his personal benefit.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
Vehicles were allowed to use the slow lane and traffic was diverted off at the rest area.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
For the last several months, wildlife experts have been alarmed by a large influx of dead and emaciated seabirds washing up on California beaches.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement are alarmed by the speed of the rollbacks, noting that protections won through generations of sacrifice have been weakened in little more than a decade.—
Kim Chandler,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
The actor and hair stylist, who met Weinstein in her twenties while trying to make it as an actor in Hollywood, spent five days on the stand, frequently becoming distraught while divulging deeply personal details about her life and four-year relationship with Weinstein.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
-
Cho's sister Anny, who was too distraught to appear on camera, told CBS News Chicago that her brother worked primarily in finance but worked for Uber on the side.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone was so relieved to see how bewildered everyone else was that the feeling in this place was almost festive.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Numerous cryptocurrency novices become bewildered by intricate decals and fluctuating percentages.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
She has also been disturbed by the increase in what looks to her like a lack of trust in science, as seen in falling vaccination rates and rising instances of diseases like measles.—
Deepti Hajela,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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When to Plant Watermelon Seeds Most seed catalogs recommend direct sowing watermelon seeds into gardens or pots because watermelons don’t like to have their roots disturbed.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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