distraught

adjective dis·traught \ di-ˈstrȯt \

Updated on: 17 May 2018

Definition of distraught

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

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distraughtly

adverb

See distraught defined for English-language learners

See distraught defined for kids

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.

Recent Examples of distraught from the Web

And as the final whistle blew, the exhausted and distraught Bayern stars sank to the floor, having given everything.

— SI.com, "Jupp Heynckes Claims Bayern Munich 'Dominated' Real Madrid As He Addresses Ulreich's Blackout'," 2 May 2018
The ban’s opponents were dismayed but not distraught.

— dara lind, Vox, "How Trump’s travel ban became normal," 27 Apr. 2018
Most of us are somewhere between uneasy and distraught with how our babies plot on growth charts, no matter whether our children are petite or portly.

— elissa strauss, CNN, "Growth charts for kids don't measure up," 4 Apr. 2018
Bedinghaus, a teacher in the district since 1994, looked distraught and upset, Principal Brent Allen wrote in the report.

— keith bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "Student: ‘I had to fight back tears’ after Ohio teacher’s deportation comment," 22 Mar. 2018
Several fellow passengers who watched the distraught family recounted the incident on social media.

— author: martine powers, Anchorage Daily News, "Puppy dies after being forced to ride in overhead bin on United flight," 14 Mar. 2018
Montgomery’s trial opened last week — his sister and daughter, who witnessed the attack, testified against him, as did his grandmother, who became distraught and collapsed in front of the jury when she was done telling her story.

— rafael olmeda, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Lauderhill man convicted of first degree murders of wife, stepdaughter," 24 Apr. 2018
The boys attended different schools, Corina explains, and when Sanchez tried to break things off, the suspect allegedly became distraught and angry.

— chris harris, PEOPLE.com, "Teen Suspect in Slaying of 'Beloved' Football Player Was His Jilted Boyfriend: Police," 23 Apr. 2018
The men were alert but distraught, according to Bell, who was told at least one of the workers fell from the framework.

— michelle hunter, NOLA.com, "'It sounded like an explosion': 6 shocked by power line at Metairie hotel," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'distraught.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.