abstracted 1 of 2

adjective

ab-ˈstrak-təd How to pronounce abstracted (audio)
Definition of abstractednext
as in preoccupied
lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions the man on the train seemed somewhat abstracted, and he did indeed forget to get off at his stop

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

abstracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of abstract
1
as in distracted
to draw the attention or mind to something else personal problems abstracted him so persistently that he struggled to keep his mind on his work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in summarized
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) took the 135-page report and abstracted it in three short paragraphs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abstracted distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of abstracted are absentminded, absent, distracted, and preoccupied. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

In what contexts can absent take the place of abstracted?

Although the words absent and abstracted have much in common, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

When can absentminded be used instead of abstracted?

In some situations, the words absentminded and abstracted are roughly equivalent. However, absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

When would distracted be a good substitute for abstracted?

The words distracted and abstracted are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

When could preoccupied be used to replace abstracted?

While the synonyms preoccupied and abstracted are close in meaning, preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abstracted
Adjective
There was an abstracted print of swimmers rendered in black and tan, which called to mind a tiger print. —Blue Carreon, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024 Coinciding with the 60th Venice Biennale, the exhibition has ranges from abstracted landscapes, both jubilant and ominous, to pure fashion. —Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
But another reason might be a latent hunger for rock that’s abstracted, collaborative, and sensation-first. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abstracted 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstracted
  1. preoccupied
  2. distracted
  3. summarized
  4. diverted
  5. outlined
Adjective
  • Indeed, no one is more preoccupied with such star power than Donald Trump himself, who basks in the adulation and approval of luminaries who support him and regularly lashes out at those who don’t.
    Brian Lowry, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
  • And Beltran seems very preoccupied with making sure that Amelia knows she’s not taken.
    Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
Definition of preoccupied
Verb
  • We would not be distracted by special interest agendas or issues that did not improve the outcomes of our students.
    Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
  • Munger’s approach was about staying within your circle of competence and not getting distracted by things outside of it.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Definition of distracted
Verb
  • Gago at the end of the session summarized key takeaways, calculating that female professionals across the three countries only make up around 30 percent of sector workers.
    Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Academic research should be gathered and summarized, ensuring that recommendations are well-supported by empirical evidence.
    James Broughel, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of summarized
Verb
  • Spirit confirmed in a statement that one of its flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was diverted to the Dominican Republic on Monday.
    Jay Blackman, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Its delivery problems aren't Spirit Airlines told Quartz in a statement its flight was diverted to the Dominican Republic after attempting to land in Port-au-Prince.
    Melvin Backman, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
Definition of diverted
Verb
  • Given there are three possible outcomes in every soccer match, the draw option is available too as outlined above.
    Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • As outlined in a 2021 report by Inside Higher Ed, during the global pandemic, many student counseling centers contracted with third-party vendors to provide teletherapy services for students.
    Eric Wood, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of outlined

Thesaurus Entries Near abstracted

abstract

abstracted

abstractedness

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Cite this Entry

“Abstracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstracted. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on abstracted

Nglish: Translation of abstracted for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of abstracted for Arabic Speakers

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