unfocused

adjective

variants also unfocussed
Definition of unfocusednext
as in muddled

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 unfocused Defense and conditioning needs work In what has been a role reversal for a man who was lauded as a stopper in Ann Arbor, Lendeborg’s hot shooting has been balanced out by his unfocused defense. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 July 2026 Heavy on grooves and jams, this album sometimes feels unfocused and indulgent. — Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Rather than casting wide nets with unfocused stops, officers act on verified information. — Charles "chuck" Broadway, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 Feeling scattered and unfocused? — Usa Today, USA Today, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfocused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfocused
  1. muddled
  2. bewildered
  3. dazed
  4. scatterbrained
  5. confused
  6. bemused
  7. senile
  8. negligent
Adjective
  • Xabi Alonso’s Madrid, for stretches of last season, looked tactically muddled and defensively exposed.
    — Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Despite being trained on the glorious quirks of humankind’s creative canon, the models push our ersatz artistic output into a bland, muddled middle ground.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of muddled
Adjective
  • That bewildered shake of the head after Meyer's pitch in that video is not a rare occurrence for Raleigh this year.
    — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • On Douban, a popular Chinese movie-review platform, viewers piled on with mocking and bewildered comments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Adjective
  • Daemon struggles to his feet, dazed, and begins cleaving his way through the smouldering city.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Grutman approaches Hart’s character, who is on the ground dazed and disheveled from a wild night out.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Definition of dazed
Adjective
  • Susan Blanchard co-starred as Tina Kelly, his scatterbrained housekeeper.
    — Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The novel begins on a Monday afternoon like any other at its three adolescent central characters’ loving but scatterbrained aunt Xía’s house in Miami.
    — Juan Vidal, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Definition of scatterbrained
Adjective
  • Also, if the switch from side by side to one-front/one-back happened instantaneously, your brain would get confused about how to interpret the images delivered from each eye, since the setup would be quite different from what you were used to.
    — Abigail Witmer, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Critics of the move have been vocal, and many residents were left confused.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • To his right, a young man is shooting on his iPhone while his friend interviews a bemused passerby.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The leasing officer who let us in watches from the doorway with a bemused smile as Parks films the space on her phone, clacking around the hardwood floors in nude heels and a backless seafoam dress, a Coach bag slung over her shoulder.
    — Clio Chang, Curbed, 14 July 2026
Definition of bemused
Adjective
  • Not long ago, a senile American president’s plan to lead democracies in a battle with autocracies was being applauded by post-1989 Atlanticists such as Anne Applebaum and Adam Michnik.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • They are being given directions by a senile old man who is losing his mind.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of senile
Adjective
  • The lawsuit claims Wendy's was negligent, sold an unsafe food product and failed to meet its legal obligation to serve food that was safe to eat.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • One day later, a jury in Los Angeles determined Meta was negligent and failed to warn users of the mental health dangers associated with using its platforms.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of negligent

Browse Nearby Words

unflinching
unfocused
unfold
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All