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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 distracted
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
The distant and distracted patriarch, although abundant on-screen in 2025, is not a novel invention.
—Susie Goldsbrough, The Atlantic, 28 Dec. 2025
Karl Vick, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
By hinting that his business was the victim of shape-shifting saboteurs, Westergaard distracted from the more prosaic story about the carelessness of his staff.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distracted
Adjective
Police said that the driver remained at the scene to cooperate with their investigation and that speed, distracted driving and impairment do not appear to have been factors.
—Verb
The reputation distracted, perhaps shrewdly, from Cheney’s failure, as the official Bush had placed in charge of terrorism, to heed warnings about 9/11.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracted
Adjective
-
But Colcord kept probing, and Lowell grew agitated.—
-
Players from both teams shoved in front of the Providence bench, with Jones stepping in the middle as an agitated Ejiofor exchanged words with Powell.—
Adjective
-
Staying small has also, historically, been linked to staying weak, preoccupied, and politically apathetic—all qualities that women in this country (or frankly, any country) cannot afford to be at this moment.—
-
Even more preoccupied with toilet humor than its predecessor, Scary Movie 2 hauled in substantially less at the box office.—
Adjective
-
The scramble to get the show launched has left Tierney and Brady a bit dazed.—
-
Meanwhile, the Golden Globes has officially added a podcast category, and even though no one quite knows what to make of it, folks seem dazed enough to roll with it nevertheless.—
Verb
-
Sacramento police diverted traffic from N Street between Fifth and Sixth streets downtown as the march proceeded, Gamble said.—
-
Hope Florida then diverted the money to political committees that spent most of it supporting the governor’s campaign against the recreational marijuana initiative that narrowly failed in 2024.—
Verb
-
These changes have left Israelis alarmed, according to the survey.—
-
Don’t be alarmed when the vinegar reacts with the baking soda.—
Adjective
-
Johnson was distraught last week, after falling just short in his first start of the season, against Dallas.—
-
Nearly a week since the killings, family members of the beloved couple have set up a fundraiser for the distraught children.—
Adjective
-
Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes.—
-
Instead, a bewildered stranger answers the door.—
Verb
-
Some victims reported feeling violated and disturbed by the trend, with many saying their reports to X went unanswered and images remained live on the platform.—
-
Meanwhile, some homeowners as far as Plainville and Southington say they, too, are disturbed by the sound and have spent the last year and a half pushing their local governments to act.—
Cite this Entry
“Distracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracted. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share