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
Simone initially doesn’t respond to the proposal, too distraught at the sudden ask and her estranged father’s presence.
—Francesca Gariano, People.com, 24 May 2025
In the rocket, a distraught Belinda explains to the robots that Alan bought the star, not her.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2025
One fan turned up to my house, distraught, wringing his hands.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 May 2025
After the meeting, the distraught father left in his own car, which is when the incident involving the deputy happened, the spokesperson said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
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.
Francesca Gariano, People.com, 24 May 2025
In the rocket, a distraught Belinda explains to the robots that Alan bought the star, not her.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2025
One fan turned up to my house, distraught, wringing his hands.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 May 2025
After the meeting, the distraught father left in his own car, which is when the incident involving the deputy happened, the spokesperson said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 5 May 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 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distraught
adjective
dis·traught
dis-ˈtrȯt 
1
: disturbed with doubt or painful feelings
2
distraughtly
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share