as in agitated
feeling overwhelming fear or worry
distraught relatives waiting to learn whether there were any survivors of the plane crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of distraught
The story starts to unfold more briskly once Nolan gets Tully to agree to exchange Elsbeth for the increasingly and very loudly distraught store staffer in costume as Raggedy Ann.
—
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
The 6-3, 6-0 loss in singles left her distraught.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
The employees who lost their jobs are distraught, according to the source familiar with the RIF.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, Eva’s decision to die left Druse distraught.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
The 6-3, 6-0 loss in singles left her distraught.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
The employees who lost their jobs are distraught, according to the source familiar with the RIF.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, Eva’s decision to die left Druse distraught.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
Adjective
-
In this effective, no-nonsense chiller, a couple – one with an escalating form of parasomnia (a sleep disturbance that leads to fugue-like sleep walking) – seek and don’t get some R&R together and wind up arguing more and getting more agitated as freaky things start to happen.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Thomas appeared agitated that he was not allowed to resume playing.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Tang thought about his other friends who are worried about their aging parents.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Too many guys would be too worried about keeping their scholarships, never mind their snaps.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Japanese had cyclotrons but no nuclear lobby driven by frightened, concerned, or ambitious scientists.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Her parents were opposed to the Russian occupation but too frightened to talk about it.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Alongside Idris as the president, the lead ensemble cast of increasingly frantic White House officials, security advisors and senior military figures includes the likes of Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Jason Clarke and Tracy Letts.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The Broncos have had to open their season on the opposite side of the country the past two years — a frantic 56-45 win at Georgia Southern last year and a 34-7 loss to South Florida in August.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The disaster forced terrified guests and hotel staff to leap from windows or dangle bedsheets to escape rooms engulfed in smoke and flames.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center in Columbus was shocked to learn that someone had fortunately come upon the terrified pups just in time, KENS5 reported.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the past, many manga and anime publishers were scared to work with Hollywood.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
-
There is no reason for this team, when playing complementary football, to be scared of anyone.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, stress can induce short term issues like upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea, while longer term stress can both cause and contribute to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).—
Sandra Rose Salathe,
Flow Space,
29 Oct. 2025
-
And so, unfortunately, people are upset about the comments.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share