distract

/di-ˈstrakt/

Middle English distracten, borrowed from Latin distractus, past participle of distrahere "to pull apart, break up, separate, draw (a person's mind) in contrary directions," from dis- dis-trahere "to drag, draw, take along"

verb

  1. to draw or direct (something, such as someone's attention) to a different object or in different directions at the same time

  2. to turn aside : divert

  3. to stir up or confuse with conflicting emotions or motives

was distracted by a sudden noise

refused to be distracted from her purpose

puzzle perplex bewilder distract nonplus confound dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve. perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

adjective

  1. insane, mad

idiom

  1. to try to keep people from noticing or thinking about something

He was trying to divert/distract attention away from his friend's mistake.