DISTRACTING Synonyms: 202 Similar and Opposite Words

distracting 1 of 2

adjective

as in confounding

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Dissimilar Words

distracting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of distract

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

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

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 distracting

Adjective

Choose a clean, non-distracting background that doesn’t compete with your mug for attention. — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Verb

The distracting Diwali fireworks distracted led to reshoots of the pivotal moment. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 Not only are these sheer curtains over half off right now, but the subtle stripe adds just enough visual interest without distracting from your room’s overall design scheme. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026 Mail and Paper Piles Leaving mail and stacks of paper on coffee tables, console tables, and end tables is distracting and causes a conflict between relaxation and productive tasks, which Lee notes are two things that don't go together. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026 Women were made to feel that their bodies were somehow offensive, distracting, or inconvenient. — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026 Now, a cross-sectional study based on a registry of fatal US motor vehicle crashes has found that the love of her albums may have even contributed a statistically significant bump in deadly traffic accidents, presumably by distracting drivers. — Mike McRae 18, New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026 Practicing meditation, visualization, or deep breathing may help in distracting from the discomfort of a full bladder for a short time. — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026 At least 10 million people use the Opal app, whose premium tier costs $100 annually, to lock themselves out of distracting apps, while others pay $59 for the Brick to do the same. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 One of the beauties of this novel is how these experiences are used as framework, never distracting from the portrait of the Boltons that emerges. — Deborah Johnson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distracting

Adjective

Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026

Definition of confounding

Verb

This year alone, $5 billion in taxpayer funds will be siphoned away from public schools to prop up Florida’s unaccountable voucher program, diverting dollars from the more than 80% of children who attend public schools.

— Andrew Spar, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
All this scattershot world-building and world-visiting allows for some colorfully diverting vignettes, in which production designer Alexandra Walker and costume designer Ann Maskrey get to show off their giddy, gaudy wares.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of diverting

Adjective

Bohm’s Phillies career has been sometimes frustrating, sometimes exciting, sometimes perplexing.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Orbital imagery has shown that unlike its heavily cratered sibling moon, Phobos, which means fear in ancient Greek, Deimos is much smoother — and covered in a perplexing layer of dust and rubble called regolith.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of perplexing

Verb

An expansion into New Mexico would add oil revenue from the Permian Basin to Texas, adding to its economy and detracting, in turn, from New Mexico's.

— Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Some asserted that the commitment and costs of traveling and attending meetings paired with the limited compensation was detracting members of the public from running for office.

— Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025

Definition of detracting

Verb

The relative rarity and disturbing nature of these cases are part of what attracts so much attention, said Michelle Oberman, a law professor at Santa Clara University who has studied and written about women who kill their children.

— N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
But after a series of disturbing events begins occurring around town, including the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline, Celeste, Renata, Jane and Bonnie must grapple with the weight of their past secrets, a synopsis reads.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Adjective

Roman’s catalog of galaxies will help scientists ascertain how quickly the universe is expanding due to these puzzling, unseen forces.

— Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Doeding also plans to host events like speed puzzling and pre-release card game experiences.

— Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of puzzling

Verb

The development proved alarming enough that OpenAI vowed last week to slow the release of its upcoming Astra AI model.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Aug. 2026
Found in many foods For consumers, of course, the latest food safety concerns can be alarming given that lettuce and jalapeño peppers are used in many of the roughly 1 billion meals Americans consume daily.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarming

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Style

“Distracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distracting. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of distracting

adjective

verb

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