as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
distraught relatives waiting to learn whether there were any survivors of the plane crash
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Recent Examples of distraught
Johnson was distraught last week, after falling just short in his first start of the season, against Dallas.
—
David Aldridge, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Cyclops, looking distraught as fiery destruction is seen behind him.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
And indeed, my wife was totally distraught by what had happened.
—Kathleen Rellihan, Outside, 28 Dec. 2025
Santiago is distraught and wracked with grief, while Doug and Griff now have to figure out how to replace their star with another snake to keep this production afloat.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
David Aldridge, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Cyclops, looking distraught as fiery destruction is seen behind him.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
And indeed, my wife was totally distraught by what had happened.
—Kathleen Rellihan, Outside, 28 Dec. 2025
Santiago is distraught and wracked with grief, while Doug and Griff now have to figure out how to replace their star with another snake to keep this production afloat.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
Adjective
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But Colcord kept probing, and Lowell grew agitated.—
Michael Waters,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Players from both teams shoved in front of the Providence bench, with Jones stepping in the middle as an agitated Ejiofor exchanged words with Powell.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Udoiwod was worried how his athleticism would bounce back this season.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
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In the play, W is worried about the environmental impact of yet another human on the planet.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The article quotes two current professors but doesn’t explore why other faculty members critical of the school were too frightened to speak on the record in what Corcoran described as a campus finally open to different opinions.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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Freedom from fear mattered because frightened societies are easily manipulated.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As the family's frantic search begins, the media is quick to point the finger at Marissa and her friend, Jenny Kaminski (Elle Fanning), whose nanny, Carrie Finch (Sophia Lillis), becomes the prime suspect.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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The dialogue is rooted in these testimonies, capturing the authentic prayers, words of comfort, and frantic internal debates that occurred as the staff navigated the complex military and bureaucratic hurdles required to dispatch an ambulance.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The birds were scared away by a resident’s dog.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
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As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Understandably terrified, Scott-Miller closed the store to protect her and her family’s safety and peace of mind.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Jan. 2026
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When workers are terrified, turnover rises, productivity falls and long-term investment stalls.—
Anabel Mendoza,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Tigers, previously 0-9 all-time at Rupp Arena, took advantage of a struggling Kentucky Wildcats squad for a 73-68 upset win.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
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The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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