as in confounding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in diverting
to draw the attention or mind to something else
we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bothering
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 distracting
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.
—Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
For instance, many autistic people have a heightened sense of hearing, and loud noises, rattling sounds or even electricity can be distracting in the work environment.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Anyone who has ever worked on a movie set knows that the cast and crew dread the days when the studio suits show up, stumbling over cables, distracting the talent, and walking in front of the camera.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2025
By appearing at ringside and distracting Lee, Van Dam created an opening for Evans to secure the victory.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
But the choice to use CGI is jarring, distracting from the dwarfs' otherwise delightful introduction in the film.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
While the venerable actor remains one of our greats, his toggling back and forth between playing New York mob kingpin Frank Costello and portraying gone-rogue former buddy Vito Genovese ultimately proves distracting and is wholly unnecessary.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Two of them began arguing, distracting the guards, thereby allowing the third, who wore a trenchcoat, a fake beard, and a tweed hat, to covertly affix a painting to the wall using double-sided tape.
—Alex Scordelis, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
Occupying and distracting the mind.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.
—Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
For instance, many autistic people have a heightened sense of hearing, and loud noises, rattling sounds or even electricity can be distracting in the work environment.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Anyone who has ever worked on a movie set knows that the cast and crew dread the days when the studio suits show up, stumbling over cables, distracting the talent, and walking in front of the camera.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2025
By appearing at ringside and distracting Lee, Van Dam created an opening for Evans to secure the victory.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
But the choice to use CGI is jarring, distracting from the dwarfs' otherwise delightful introduction in the film.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
While the venerable actor remains one of our greats, his toggling back and forth between playing New York mob kingpin Frank Costello and portraying gone-rogue former buddy Vito Genovese ultimately proves distracting and is wholly unnecessary.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Two of them began arguing, distracting the guards, thereby allowing the third, who wore a trenchcoat, a fake beard, and a tweed hat, to covertly affix a painting to the wall using double-sided tape.
—Alex Scordelis, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting
Verb
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Instead of diverting limited local resources to do the job of federal immigration officials or funding immigrant detention, this bill empowers communities to keep the resources where they are needed most.—
Carlos Guillermo Smith and Dotie Joseph,
Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2025
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That’s a crucial step in diverting waste away from landfills.—
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
The Christian Science Monitor,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
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The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The Dodgers’ offense is more talented than the last 10 days have indicated, which makes this stretch all the more perplexing.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Their silence is a bit perplexing, given that many of them claim to be focused on current events and trending topics.—
Christian Paz,
Vox,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Don’t come over here disturbing my peace if mahogany queens aren’t your preferred type.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Crimping is the process of severing a crop at the base and laying it over to create a decomposing thatch/mulch layer for the garden without disturbing the soil.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Even more puzzling was the late move to bring in striker Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace to take up the second and last available Premier League loan, paying a large proportion of his considerable wages to boot.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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What may be more puzzling is how to stop the white-ball team from crashing and burning.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Sometimes the results are inaccurate, generated by AI hallucinations – responses AI systems produce that sound convincing but are incorrect, made up or irrelevant.—
Nicole M. Bennett,
The Conversation,
23 Apr. 2025
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Speaking with the New York Times, Jesuit expert Rev. Thomas J. Reese cited the layout of tables inside the Sistine Chapel, as well as the color of the carpet, to be inaccurate.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Overweight and obesity need to be treated safely and effectively to avoid that worrying forecast.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Dec. 2024
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Bitcoin has dropping back from its all-time high of over $100,000 in the last week as BlackRock quietly confirmed a worrying bitcoin bombshell.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The formula at the core of President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement that continues to rattle markets is bewildering economists, who say it is based on flawed assumptions.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
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The ominous thriller received a second trailer on Tuesday (April 1) as the Toronto singer/actor took viewers further into his bewildering odyssey.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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