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

Example 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
The dialectic talk can feel a bit abstracted from politics, as can spotting Marx in every mention of equity. —Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 But another reason might be a latent hunger for rock that’s abstracted, collaborative, and sensation-first. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
The work instead appears to unfold in segments that are vaguely linear, with the plot of the Shakespeare play abstracted into moving tableaux. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Mar. 2025 Nonetheless, when abstracted from Ancient Rome, several of his maneuvers can teach contemporary entrepreneurs some great lessons. —Ted Ladd, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abstracted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstracted
  1. preoccupied
  2. distracted
  3. summarized
  4. diverted
  5. outlined
Adjective
  • Remember that kids may be too preoccupied at times to sit down and eat.
    — ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Volkov’s version has a more serious tone and is more preoccupied with the right morals and behavior.
    — Christin Bohnke, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of preoccupied
Verb
  • Cameras captured her walking around on the grass before getting distracted and Jordan swooping her up to get to their next hole.
    — Nasha Smith, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The one who got distracted by the minstrel did not finish last.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of distracted
Verb
  • Now a new class of companies is offering a third option, promising to help publishers get paid when their work is cited or summarized by AI, providing some compensation for lost page views.
    — Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Then the prosecutor summarized for me the incident that related to my father.
    — Lee Chang-dong, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
Definition of summarized
Verb
  • United Airlines said seven of their flights returned to their origin or were diverted to other airports, and added that all other flights scheduled to the airport on Friday were cancelled.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Other flights are being diverted to London Gatwick Airport, according to NBC News.
    — Leslie Josephs,Monica Pitrelli,Lucy Handley, CNBC, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of diverted
Verb
  • Here's what to know about what government employees would continue to work during a shutdown, based on prior shutdowns and a plan the White House most recently outlined in 2023.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden has also outlined proposals that could result in significant layoffs of government employees, known as civil service workers.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of outlined

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abstracted
abstractedness
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Cite this Entry

“Abstracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstracted. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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