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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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
Olvera was distraught about her 11-year-old daughter's friends.
—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American-Statesman, 31 Oct. 2024
For the next hour, Williams drove around to watch the progression of the fire from box-store parking lots and cul-de-sacs where distraught homeowners were being evacuated.
—M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
The injury issues continued for Carter, who was distraught on the bench in the second quarter after limping up and down the court.
—Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
The trial ends at the same time Alice’s life does, apparently because a distraught Teen figures out that they’re supposed to recognize the spirit of Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distraught 
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American-Statesman, 31 Oct. 2024
For the next hour, Williams drove around to watch the progression of the fire from box-store parking lots and cul-de-sacs where distraught homeowners were being evacuated.
—M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
The injury issues continued for Carter, who was distraught on the bench in the second quarter after limping up and down the court.
—Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
The trial ends at the same time Alice’s life does, apparently because a distraught Teen figures out that they’re supposed to recognize the spirit of Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
Adjective
-
Some South Florida fire rescue agencies’ protocols call it agitated delirium.Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
-
The crowd, seemingly more agitated, followed Mayweather into the street.Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Still, some residents are worried about the drones.Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024
-
Lawmakers in New Jersey and beyond grew worried Friday about the now-regular spotting of drones over the state, with officials calling for answers and more transparency from federal agencies.The Hill, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
His fervor to determine who took the weapon reveals a shockingly monstrous side, turning his wife and children into frightened suspects and leading to a jarring tonal-shift ending that proves to be a cathartic, believable final destination for a film simmering with mistrust and anger.Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
-
At worst, this could lead to one or more Kent State-type incidents, with frightened Guardsmen in hostile, unfamiliar territory.Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
This year's garment celebrates the hectic holiday season with a frantic, detachable cheeseburger.Fielding Buck, Orange County Register, 13 Dec. 2024
-
The big win of the night was for Sandro Botticelli’s 15th-century painting The Virgin and Child Enthroned, which sold after a frantic ten-minute bidding war between nine parties.George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
That evening, in the no man’s land, a field strewn with empty water bottles, four Shia families sat on a picnic blanket around a burner attached to a gas tank, looking scared and drinking yerba mate.Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2024
-
Once glued to their hiding spot, a scared cat may not come out when called by its owner.Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Will the Bengals' defense finally back up Joe Burrow and company to get a win, or will the Cowboys keep their postseason hopes alive with an upset win in primetime?Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
-
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was still upset and tweeting about Ole Miss’ exclusion as of Sunday afternoon.Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near distraught
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share