1
: agitated with doubt or mental conflict or pain
distraught mourners
2
: exhibiting a severely disordered state of mind : not mentally sound
as if thou wert distraught and mad with terror—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
distraughtly
adverb
Examples of distraught in a Sentence
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
She wasn’t moved to tears by Lainey Wilson’s headlining performance, nor was the singer-songwriter from rural San Luis Obispo, California, distraught over any kind of personal trauma triggered by Wilson’s lyrics (country songs are known for having this kind of effect, after all).
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2025
Carter’s widow, Lillian Carter, was too distraught to read her own statement.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
Baku is particularly distraught at the death of his old friend.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
When Joe returns to the dreamscape, after briefly opening his eyes to a distraught George warning him that the monster is getting closer, Joe sees the same priest, now alive, delivering mass at the Kayenta police station.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
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Sam Reed, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2025
Carter’s widow, Lillian Carter, was too distraught to read her own statement.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
Baku is particularly distraught at the death of his old friend.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
When Joe returns to the dreamscape, after briefly opening his eyes to a distraught George warning him that the monster is getting closer, Joe sees the same priest, now alive, delivering mass at the Kayenta police station.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distraught. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distraught
adjective
dis·traught
dis-ˈtrȯt 
1
: disturbed with doubt or painful feelings
2
distraughtly
adverb
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