Synonyms for distract
dɪˈstrækt

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. distract, deflect(verb)

   draw someone's attention away from something

   "The thief distracted the bystanders"; "He deflected his competitors"

   Synonyms:
   forfend, unhinge, disorder, avert, ward off, disquiet, bend, obviate, perturb, fend off, stave off, block, debar, avoid, head off, forefend, parry, trouble, turn away, deflect, cark

2. perturb, unhinge, disquiet, trouble, cark, distract, disorder(verb)

   disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

   "She was rather perturbed by the news that her father was seriously ill"

   Synonyms:
   unhinge, disorder, perturb, inconvenience oneself, upset, inconvenience, ail, discommode, disquiet, bother, cark, deflect, put out, incommode, disoblige, pain, disarray, throw out of kilter, trouble, disturb, trouble oneself, derange

English Synonyms and Antonyms(2.40 / 5 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. distract(v)

   The central idea of withdrawing makes abstract in common speech a euphemism for appropriate (unlawfully), purloin, steal. In mental processes we discriminate between objects by distinguishing their differences; we separate some one element from all that does not necessarily belong to it, abstract it, and view it alone. We may separate two ideas, and hold both in mind in comparison or contrast; but when we abstract one of them, we drop the other out of thought. The mind is abstracted when it is withdrawn from all other subjects and concentrated upon one, diverted when it is drawn away from what it would or should attend to by some other interest, distracted when the attention is divided among different subjects, so that it can not be given properly to any. The trouble with the distracted person is that he is not abstracted. Compare DISCERN.

   Synonyms:
   abstract, appropriate, detach, discriminate, distinguish, divert, eliminate, purloin, remove, separate, steal, take away, withdraw

   Antonyms:
   add, combine, complete, conjoin, fill up, increase, restore, strengthen, unite

   Preposition:
   The purse may be abstracted from the pocket; the substance from the accidents; a book into a compend.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms(1.67 / 3 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. distract

   Synonyms:
   divide, dissipate, dissever, disconcert, discompose, perplex, bewilder, convulse, madden, disturb

   Antonyms:
   unite, fix, concentrate, collect, compose

Dictionary of English Synonymes(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. distract(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   perplex, confuse, discompose, harass, disturb, disconcert, bewilder, confound, mystify, embarrass

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these paraphrases:

1. List of paraphrases for "distract":

   divert, deflect, amuse, entertain, hijack, detract

How to pronounce distract?

Alex

US English

Daniel

British

Karen

Australian

Veena

Indian

How to say distract in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use distract in a sentence?

1. Apple Inc:

   Qualcomm's ongoing campaign of patent infringement claims is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the larger issues they face with investigations into their business practices in U.S. federal court, and around the world.

2. Clio Boele:

   These false allegations distract from the important work of finding solutions to a complex public health crisis by placing blame where it does not belong. Government data consistently makes clear that our nation's opioid crisis is growing rapidly because of illicit fentanyl and heroin smuggled in from China and Mexico, we strongly deny these allegations, which are inconsistent with the factual record, and will vigorously defend against them.

3. Mike Donilon:

   I understand that the president and his allies will undertake every effort to go after the vice president and try to change the subject and distract them, this isn't new. It's not like Donald Trump started attacking the vice president today or yesterday, Donald Trump's been at Donald Trump all year long.

4. Abu Mustafa:

   We aim to distract the soldiers from shooting and wounding or killing our people. Israeli soldiers will be worried those fire-kites may fall on their heads or torch bushes around them, these kites also torch bushes and trees and not only cause them losses, but keep them busy trying to put out fires.

5. Grigor Dimitrov:

   If I win I will roll upside down on the court. So if I get to that point, every one will get to see my acrobatics live ! , i got bored on the tube. Then I just decided to take a funky photo. It was a good way to distract Grigor Dimitrov.

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