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distractible

distractible

1 5.8
Likely to lose attention when other things happen
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈstræktəbl/
translation icon : distraíble
  • Will your distractible character find something worth focusing on?
  • highly distractible
  • distractible children
  • more distractible

I'm as a writer, I'm more easily, you know, I'm distractible.

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Examples

  • Longitudinal studies of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds with prenatal cocaine exposure suggest the majority of these children have low average to normal cognitive abilities, but tend to be highly distractible and have notable difficulties.

    Academic text (1993)
  • These team members may be described as easily bored, distractible, and possibly lacking in follow-through.

    Academic text (2016)
  • In other words, they were more distractible.

    Academic text (2010)
  • And he was very distractible.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • So for heavy multitaskers or highly distractible people, they are distracted by the road.

  • In one study, Martin (1989) reported that distractible children and those low in attention received more criticism from their teachers.

    Academic text (1998)
  • They were much more distractible, and my lesson didn't help much either.

    Academic text (2004)
  • As the children grow older, they are less likely to be fidgety or distractible, become less hesitant about answering questions, and their ability to concentrate improves.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Preliminary longitudinal studies with toddlers and preschoolers suffering from such exposure suggest the majority of these children have low average to normal cognitive abilities but tend to be highly distractible and have notable difficulties with speech and language development, peer interactions, and fine motor control.

    Academic text (1993)
  • During the lecture, I found myself easily distractible by the noise outside.

Synonyms

absent
vsdistractible
19 4.0

Not paying attention because your mind is somewhere else

is pulled away by outside things rather than by private thought
unfocused
vsdistractible
16 4.8

Not paying attention to one thing and having no clear goal

is pulled away specifically by other things rather than unfocusedness itself
inattentive
vsdistractible
5 5.3

Does not notice what is happening or small details

is drawn away by other things rather than showing low care
scatterbrained
vsdistractible
  • Offensive
3 7.3

A person who is not organized, easily distracted, and often forgets things

is pulled away by other things rather than being generally disordered
unmindful
vsdistractible
1 7.2

Not aware of what is happening around you

is pulled away by other things rather than simply unaware
scatty
vsdistractible
  • UK
1 9.9

A person who does not pay attention, often forgets things and is disorganized

is pulled away by outside things without the playful tone
unobservant
vsdistractible
1 5.9

You do not notice small details around you

is drawn away by other things rather than missing specifics by habit
drifty
vsdistractible
  • Informal
1 7.8

Easily distracted and not paying full attention

is pulled away by external things rather than gently wandering
unconcentrated
vsdistractible
1 4.7

Your mind is not paying attention to what you are doing

is drawn away by other things rather than simply lacking effort
distrait
vsdistractible
  • Literature
9.9

Not paying attention because you feel worried or are thinking about something else

is pulled away by any things, not only anxious concern
unattentive
vsdistractible
6.5

Not paying attention to what is happening or being said

is pulled away by distractions rather than merely careless attention
unperceptive
vsdistractible
7.3

Not good at noticing or understanding things

is pulled away by other things rather than lacking perceptive skill

Antonyms

61 3.0

Paying close attention and caring about someone's needs

3.0

Giving full attention to one thing

How Distracted

preoccupied
32 4.5
distractible
1 5.8
absentminded
2 5.9
inattentive
5 5.3
attentive
61 3.0

Surface Forms

distractible positive

Morphology

distractible = distract (transparent) = distract + ible

Meaning is directly derived from the verb 'distract' plus the adjectival suffix '-ible' meaning 'able to be', yielding 'able to be distracted'.

Etymology

The word distractible comes from dis- meaning 'away' and -tract- meaning 'to pull', the same root as tractor. So a distractible person is 'easily pulled away' from what they are doing or thinking.