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
The victim’s grieving brother was too distraught to talk to reporters.
—
Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
With Mendez at gunpoint, the distraught driver was allowed to get out of her car.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Morrison talked about how her daughter was distraught after the breakup, leading to an emotional moment where Morrison ran offstage in tears.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
While cathartic for a moment, both Claire and Jamie are distraught, thinking that their daughter could have been alive and never knew.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
With Mendez at gunpoint, the distraught driver was allowed to get out of her car.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Morrison talked about how her daughter was distraught after the breakup, leading to an emotional moment where Morrison ran offstage in tears.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
While cathartic for a moment, both Claire and Jamie are distraught, thinking that their daughter could have been alive and never knew.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
Adjective
-
Trump has been in an increasingly agitated state, lobbing barbs at the alliance for refusing to help clear the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf chokepoint where around 20% of the world’s oil flowed until Iran effectively shuttered it.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Equally agitated are Jedi Padawan Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) and her Master, Eeko-Dio-Daki (Dennis Haysbert).—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Democrats are worried that our troops eat too well.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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But, for now, some leaders remain worried about what happens next.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Chesney became frightened, scaled the enclosure wall and hopped over the fence.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The team caught up with Chesney on Wednesday and again Thursday night, but Johnson said the frightened kangaroo slipped away — once by jumping into a cold river — and Johnson lost track on the drone.—
John O'Connor,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Szeemann’s two Venice Biennales followed a decade of frantic exhibition-making across the globe, by Szeemann himself and by young professionals proud to call themselves independent curators.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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Brooks, for his part, equivocated … A bout of frantic rebranding ensued.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In many cases, people deported leave behind family members who may be too young or scared to speak because of their own undocumented status.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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At McWilliams Cemetery, located at West Armuchee Road and Smith Gap Road, officers found two emaciated dogs running loose — scared and hungry.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This publicity brought a flood of calls from hundreds of terrified men around the country—many living in states where being gay was a crime that could land you in a psychiatric hospital or jail.—
Donna Lamb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Recently, Kristen chased a terrified family with young children up a nearby stairway.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This small meal should be low in fiber and fat, as these can cause an upset stomach.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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In his March Madness brackets, Obama has the Arizona Wildcats men defeating the Duke Blue Devils (who have already been upset) and UConn's women's team winning it all.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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