distraught
adjective
dis·traught di-ˈstrȯt 
1
: agitated with doubt or mental conflict or pain
distraught mourners
2
: mentally deranged : crazed
as if thou wert distraught and mad with terror
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare distraughtly adverb
Synonyms
- agitated
- delirious
- distracted
- distrait
- frantic
- frenzied
- hysterical
- hysteric
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Of particular concern are phony contractors, who knock on the doors of distraught homeowners and offer to repair damaged roofs or remove fallen trees. Natalie Rodriguez, This Old House, March 2006 The night before the story broke, West sat down for a two-hour interview with the Spokane-Review and left so distraught that its editor, Steven Smith, asked the police chief to check on him. Unmesh Kher, Time, 23 May 2005 Captured by news photographers under the direction of his manager Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's turn in the barber's chair was a public ceremony: a symbolic shearing, not only of Elvis—who would return from the service a meek semblance of himself, a mama's boy without a mama (his distraught mother, Gladys, died while he was stationed at Fort Hood, soon to depart for Germany)—but of rock 'n' roll itself. James Wolcott, Vanity Fair, November 2000 Distraught relatives are waiting for news of the missing children. She was distraught over the death of her partner.
Natalie Rodriguez, This Old House, March 2006 The night before the story broke, West sat down for a two-hour interview with the Spokane-Review and left so distraught that its editor, Steven Smith, asked the police chief to check on him. Unmesh Kher, Time, 23 May 2005 Captured by news photographers under the direction of his manager Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's turn in the barber's chair was a public ceremony: a symbolic shearing, not only of Elvis—who would return from the service a meek semblance of himself, a mama's boy without a mama (his distraught mother, Gladys, died while he was stationed at Fort Hood, soon to depart for Germany)—but of rock 'n' roll itself. James Wolcott, Vanity Fair, November 2000 Distraught relatives are waiting for news of the missing children. She was distraught over the death of her partner. Recent Examples on the Web Immediately after the nominations, Taylor is distraught. Kyle Fowle, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Speaking to the Italian Sky News channel, Oriachi was distraught. Elisabetta Povoledo, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2022 Dozens of onlookers gathered at the crime scene, many visibly distraught over the killing. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 31 May 2022 My colleague was involved with another woman (a revelation that the doctor may not have registered) and, because the relationship wasn’t going well, my colleague was visibly distraught about it at work. Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2022 Woodcock and her family were distraught when Lori Daybell decided not to bring JJ to his father's memorial service in Louisiana. Jacques Billeaud And Rebecca Boone, Star Tribune, 28 July 2021 For days, the city’s Muslim residents have been distraught as police scoured the city for the suspect. Dan Frosch, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 When Milley arrived at the White House the next day, he was received by Kelly, who seemed to him unusually distraught. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 In the crowd, another classmate tearfully clung to a teacher, too distraught to face the community. Eve Sampson, Detroit Free Press, 4 June 2022 See More
Kyle Fowle, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Speaking to the Italian Sky News channel, Oriachi was distraught. Elisabetta Povoledo, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2022 Dozens of onlookers gathered at the crime scene, many visibly distraught over the killing. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 31 May 2022 My colleague was involved with another woman (a revelation that the doctor may not have registered) and, because the relationship wasn’t going well, my colleague was visibly distraught about it at work. Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2022 Woodcock and her family were distraught when Lori Daybell decided not to bring JJ to his father's memorial service in Louisiana. Jacques Billeaud And Rebecca Boone, Star Tribune, 28 July 2021 For days, the city’s Muslim residents have been distraught as police scoured the city for the suspect. Dan Frosch, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 When Milley arrived at the White House the next day, he was received by Kelly, who seemed to him unusually distraught. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 In the crowd, another classmate tearfully clung to a teacher, too distraught to face the community. Eve Sampson, Detroit Free Press, 4 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, modification of Latin distractus — see distract entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
distraught
adjective
dis·traught di-ˈstrȯt
: very upset
distraught
adjective
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
Relevance
- agitated
- worried
- frightened
- frantic
- terrified
- scared
- upset
- horrified
- distracted
- hysterical
- hysteric
- anxious
- alarmed
- delirious
- troubled
- disturbed
- alarmed
- nervous
- distrait
- frenzied
- perturbed
- aghast
- disquieted
- beside oneself
- fearful
- crazed
- spooked
- terrorized
- deranged
- affrighted
- mad
- tense
- demented
- maniac
- maniacal
- berserk
- raging
- ballistic
- raving
- nuclear
- ranting
- wrought (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- collected
- recollected
- composed
- calm
- serene
- peaceful
- tranquil
- placid
- unperturbed
- self-possessed
- unworried
- undisturbed
- unhysterical
- untroubled
- unshaken
- self-possessed
- self-composed
- cool
- coolheaded
- self-collected