Synonyms for distract
dɪˈstræktdis·tract

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

1. distractverb

   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 The mind is abstracted when it is withdrawn from all other subjects and concentrated upon one, diverted when it is drawn away from what it would or should attend to by some other interest, distracted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

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

1. distract, deflectverb

   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, disorderverb

   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

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

1. distractverb

   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

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How to use distract in a sentence?

1. Matt Stoller:

   Freedom From Facebook was looking for a way to discredit us so they weaponized false allegations of anti-Semitism to distract from the critique, which they're actually quite afraid of, which is the critique of monopolization, it never crossed our mind that this was anything but a symbol of monopoly.

2. Aurora Berill:

   The past is immutable. Don't let it distract you from your current goals and ambitions.

3. 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.

4. Pete Leffler:

   I like Biden, though I am still undecided. But we can't let Trump drag us down into these silly debates that only distract from his own problems.

5. Donald Trump:

   Saddam Hussein and the other enemies of peace may have thought that the serious debate currently before the House of Representatives would distract Americans or weaken our resolve to face Saddam Hussein down. But once more, the United States has proven that although we are never eager to use force, when we must act in America's vital interests, we will do so.