THROW OFF Synonyms: 12 Similar and Opposite Words

throw off

verb

Definition of throw off

as in to distract

to draw the attention or mind to something else the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot

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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 throw off At $6,500 of daily volume, a 10% tax throws off something like $650 a day. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Some clubs have even moved players around age groups and positions in a bid to throw off interested parties. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 But too many mixed signals can throw off an opponent’s risk calculus, giving rise to misunderstandings that can produce or worsen a crisis. — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026 Those who adore Kurosawa’s unsettling earlier films may be thrown off by his new movie’s relatively muted approach. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for throw off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for throw off

Verb

Investigators say a tire was placed in the road in a plot to distract and kill Jared Bridegan, 33, in Jacksonville Beach in 2022.

— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Kiser’s husband, Brady Kiser, said he had been briefly distracted while watching Trigg while his wife was away.

— Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

After one unit went offline, the Romanian navy blasted riverbed rocks, dredged the channel, and sank barges filled with stones in an attempt to divert more water toward the plant and keep the other unit operating.

— , CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Taxpayers need to know that almost $200 million of their money has been diverted away from charging stations that could help make commuting with electric vehicles easier.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of divert

Browse Nearby Words

thrown up

throw off

throw (on)

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“Throw off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throw%20off. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of throw off

verb

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