distractor

or dis·tract·er

[ dih-strak-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that distracts the attention.
2. an incorrect choice among multiple-choice answers on a test.

Example Sentences

One spectator interrupted an August 2021 hearing on the bill to call a Democratic lawmaker who opposed it a “fascist distractor.”

From Los Angeles Times

A good soothing distractor can be better than the familiar techniques people tend to turn to at night, such as muscle relaxation and visualizations.

From Washington Post

If your chosen distractor keeps you awake, try something else.

From Washington Post

Though the positive association was strong, it eventually wore off: After visiting dozens of flowers the caffeinated bees started investigating the distractor flowers too, and Arnold points to the laboratory setup as one cause.

From Scientific American

“The bees would sooner or later try out the distractor flowers and realize that they’re equally as rewarding.”

From Scientific American

Related Words

• ploy
• smokescreen