Distraction
[dɪ'strækʃ(ə)n] or [dɪ'strækʃən]
Definition
(noun.) the act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something; 'conjurers are experts at misdirection'.
(noun.) mental turmoil; 'he drives me to distraction'.
(noun.) an obstacle to attention.
Editor: Maynard--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation.
(n.) That which diverts attention; a diversion.
(n.) A diversity of direction; detachment.
(n.) State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity.
(n.) Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions.
(n.) Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair.
(n.) Derangement of the mind; madness.
Checked by Brady
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Confusion, perplexity, embarrassment, bewilderment, abstraction, mystification.[2]. Disturbance, discord, tumult, disorder, division, perturbation, commotion, turmoil, agitation.[3]. Derangement, madness, raving, insanity, alienation, aberration, incoherence, wandering, delirium, mania, lunacy, raving, hallucination, loss of the senses, disordered intellect or faculties, loss of reason.
Edited by Janet
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Inattention, madness, absence
ANT:Attention, composure
Checked by Joy
Examples
- I loved her at that minute to distraction. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- I loved Dora Spenlow to distraction! Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Paul cast at these implements; he hated them mortally, considering sewing a source of distraction from the attention due to himself. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Do you object to such a piece of distraction remaining where she is? Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- The nature of my relations with her, which placed me on terms of familiarity without placing me on terms of favor, conduced to my distraction. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- It was Poland that suffered by the distraction of France. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Having nothing, so it is thought, to do with mental activity, it becomes a distraction, an evil to be contended with. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Comme cela, said she: he is handsome, and he loves me to distraction, so that I am well amused. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Can there be any greater evil than discord and distraction and plurality where unity ought to reign? Plato. The Republic.
- I have tried again and again to point out the iconoclasm that is constantly necessary to avoid the distraction that comes of idolizing our own methods of thought. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- But her temper was fluctuating; joy for a few instants shone in her eyes, but it continually gave place to distraction and reverie. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- The greatest good of a State is unity; the greatest evil, discord and distraction. Plato. The Republic.
- Political inventors are to-day largely unconscious of their purpose, and, so, defenceless against the distraction of their routineer enemies. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- I should always love her, every minute, to distraction. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- He also advised me to be composed; I scorned the insinuation of helplessness and distraction, shook off his hand, and began to walk about again. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- I am very busy just now, and I desire no distractions, my friend answered. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
Editor: Timmy