distraught

adjective

di-ˈstrȯt How to pronounce distraught (audio)
Definition of distraughtnext
as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry distraught relatives waiting to learn whether there were any survivors of the plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 distraught Agency officials looked visibly distraught at the size of the cuts The Trump administration also aims to lay off half of HUD's staff, according to an agency worker with direct knowledge of the plans and a union leader who has spoken with other HUD employees. — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025 After the Home Depot truck took off down the street, with Tatiana Pino in pursuit, the footage shows that the mail carrier did a U-turn and started to follow Pino’s vehicle, stopping briefly after Pino’s distraught daughter rushed outside and flagged him down. — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025 As for future plans, Stinchcombe’s so far unrealized ambition is to sell the debit card as a white label product to banks–a solution the banks could offer to families distraught about grandma’s out of control charitable charges or garden gnome purchases. — Lindsey Choo, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile, Danny appeared to be the distraught boyfriend on the local news. — Natalie Morales, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
  1. agitated
  2. worried
  3. frightened
  4. frantic
  5. scared
  6. upset
Adjective
  • Collins was also agitated that Martinelli was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in part because the coaches’ choices were required before the final games were played this past weekend.
    — Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Over time, Fineman noticed that Peach was growing more lethargic, agitated, and itchy, which interrupted the peace of his beloved routine.
    — Colson Thayer, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of agitated
Adjective
  • About 47 million people faced an enhanced to moderate severe storm threat from Madison, Wis., to Birmingham, Ala. Forecasters grew increasingly worried that intense thunderstorms farther south will likely bring an even greater tornado threat Saturday.
    — Sean Murphy and Russ Bynum, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
  • That’s going to be important because many people are worried about the health of the consumer.
    — Adam Sarhan, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • Inside, the staff scrambles for cover and a frightened woman and child are seen hiding behind a buffet counter.
    — Mark Price, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Staying apolitical in his work, Lynch expressed the personal idiosyncrasy that reflected his upbringing in Midwest America (born in Missoula, Mont., and of Finnish-Danish heritage) as well as his private, frightened knowledge of national terror.
    — Armond White, National Review, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin stopped three shots during a pair of frantic pileups in the crease before New York won a faceoff and Simon Holmstrom scored an empty netter from his own end with 6.3 seconds left.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
  • That raised questions about Silicon Valley’s frantic spending.
    — Cade Metz, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of frantic
Adjective
  • As the scream queen, there’s a role that Sam’s character can play, either angry at Paul, fighting back, or super scared.
    — Barry Levitt, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2025
  • TikTok is eating our lunch, and executives are scared.
    — Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • Men’s Pro Singles Recap The venue was rocked by a huge upset on Thursday afternoon, when 16-yr old Floridian No. 40 seed John Lucian Goins shocked the No. 1 seed Ben Johns in the quarters.
    — Todd Boss, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Was this one of those days for an unthinkable upset?
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of upset

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Cite this Entry

“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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