What is another word for distract ?

To divert one's mind or attention (to something else)

“That question is the only thing that could possibly distract me from what has just happened.”

Verb

To bother or cause unease to one's mental or emotional state

weigh heavily on one's mind

appal^UK

appall^US

agonize^US

agonise^UK

make a big thing out of

make a big thing of

mess with someone's head

do someone's head in

sweat out

give someone a hard time

be a great weight on

make a meal of

make a mountain out of a molehill

make a thing of

more ❯

“Worried that the news would distract me before my exams, she tried her best to hide the letter.”

Verb

put someone off their stride

To disturb the composure of

put out of countenance

rattle one's cage

make someone scratch their head

cause to be at a stand

put someone off their stroke

demoralize^US

demoralise^UK

set someone back on their heels

appal^UK

balk^US

baulk^UK

stop someone in their tracks

appall^US

paralyse^UK

paralyze^US

cause someone to lose their composure

make someone's head spin

galvanize^US

galvanise^UK

catch somebody off balance

catch somebody unawares

knock the stuffing out of someone

destabilize^US

dishonour^UK

knock the stuffing out of

blur

petrify

hit like a ton of bricks

destabilise^UK

get on someone's wick

hurt somebody's feelings

dishonor^US

terrorize^US

terrorise^UK

fill with consternation

put the wind up someone

put somebody off his or her stride

pull the rug out from under

pull the rug from under

take someone's breath away

take your breath away

knock over with feather

blow someone's mind

take the wind out of your sails

stick it to

bedaze

conquer

tie somebody in knots

boggle someone's mind

bring around

strike with awe

take one's breath away

cause to lose your bearings

bully

browbeat

bring someone up short

scandalize^US

traumatize^US

knock one's socks off

sweep someone off their feet

subordinate

destroy

kill

antagonize^US

traumatise^UK

scandalise^UK

antagonise^UK

insult

give offence to

completely surprise

make someone's blood run cold

raise someone's eyebrows

gross out

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

put off one's stroke

more ❯

Verb

To distract, or to occupy or draw one's attention or thoughts

Verb

To delight, allure or attract in an almost magical manner

magnetise^UK

magnetize^US

enthral^UK

mesmerise^UK

mesmerize^US

enthrall^US

hold the attention of

monopolize^US

monopolise^UK

hold someone's attention

hypnotize^US

hypnotise^UK

tickle someone's fancy

arouse one's curiosity

engage one's attention

capture one's imagination

humor^US

humour^UK

have something to do with

capture your imagination

grab the attention of

be a box office success

fill the seats

prompt

whet someone's appetite

take someone's fancy

suck in

rope in

make roll in the aisles

galvanize^US

arouse the curiosity of

give someone a thrill

engage someone's attention

arouse someone's curiosity

be a source of fascination to

galvanise^UK

make someone's mouth water

include

encompass

be the business of

be in connection with

be of importance to

be important to

more ❯

Verb

put someone off their stroke

To cause to stop making progress, to hinder, to slow down, to delay or forestall

Verb

To cause someone to lose their concentration

put someone off

sidetrack

cause someone to lose their concentration

disturb someone's concentration

divert someone's attention

Verb

drive you round the twist

To cause to become angry

drive you to distraction

drive you round the bend

make your hackles rise

wind up

drive to distraction

drive you off your head

drive you out of your mind

make somebody's blood boil

drive somebody up the wall

antagonize^US

antagonise^UK

give someone the hump

drive round the twist

get on someone's nerves

get someone's back up

get in someone's hair

ruffle someone's feathers

make someone's blood boil

get under someone's skin

get someone's dander up

rattle someone's cage

make blood boil

cheese off

make someone's hackles rise

get up someone's nose

raise someone's hackles

try someone's patience

put someone's back up

get one's goat

drive bananas

get on someone's wick

get under your skin

rub you up the wrong way

scandalize^US

get someone's hackles up

be a thorn in someone's flesh

scandalise^UK

give someone a hard time

be a pain in the neck

give a hard time

be a thorn in someone's side

appal^UK

appall^US

put someone's nose out of joint

set one's teeth on edge

be like a red rag to a bull

ruffle one's feathers

demoralize^US

rub one the wrong way

rile up

put your nose out of joint

fluster

push someon's buttons

drive you up the wall

wind somebody up

get on somebody's nerves

demoralise^UK

become covered with condensation

weigh heavily on one's mind

agonise^UK

be a weight on one's mind

agonize^US

breathe down someone's neck

throw off balance

wear out

puzzle

get up somebody's nose

hurt someone's feelings

press

abash

hurt somebody's feelings

criticize^US

criticise^UK

pressurize^US

pressurise^UK

put somebody's nose out of joint

get on the wrong side of

rattle someone's chain

stroke someone's hair the wrong way

put somebody's back up

breath down someone's neck

set your teeth on edge

victimize^US

make an enemy of somebody

get on the wrong side of somebody

make somebody's hackles rise

terrorize^US

mess with someone's head

set someone's teeth on edge

victimise^UK

terrorise^UK

rub somebody up the wrong way

weigh heavily on someone's mind

be a weight on someone's mind

put someone off their stroke

cause someone to lose their composure

throw into a tizz

bring pressure to bear on

make severe demands on

put a strain on

upset the apple cart

make one's hackles rise

lose patience

get the knife into

make things hot for someone

stick the knife into

single out

make it hot for someone

get on someone's case

brutalize^US

brutalise^UK

lie heavy on someone's mind

prey on someone's mind

weigh heavy on someone's mind

lose the affection of

exhaust someone's patience

cause someone difficulty

tread on someone's toes

put in a spot

give trouble

be a problem to

make someone go out of his way

put someone to trouble

rub somebody the wrong way

use strong-arm tactics on

smoulder^UK

smolder^US

eat away at one's mind

gnaw at one's mind

grumble

complain

more ❯

Verb

put someone up to something

To attract or lure by temptation

manoeuvre^UK

maneuver^US

magnetize^US

intrigue

magnetise^UK