The antonyms for the word "wast engrossed by" are "distracted," "inattentive," "neglectful," and "indifferent." These words suggest a lack of focus, interest, or concern. If someone is distracted, they are easily sidetracked and not fully engaged in the task at hand. Inattentive implies a lack of focus due to disinterest or the inability to pay attention. Neglectful suggests a lack of care or concern for something that should be attended to. Indifferent means having no strong feelings one way or the other and not being invested in the subject. These antonyms indicate a lack of passion, interest, or dedication, and can be detrimental to achieving goals or completing tasks.