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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distraught
The Elijah Phillips story McClamrock vividly remembers that day in August when Phillips came into his office distraught.
—
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Both Jesse and Ashley were emotionally distraught and crying throughout the video.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
The next night, Husband arrived for his shift looking shaky and distraught and breathing heavily.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
The first glimpse at Season Two picks up at that moment and reveals a distraught Julia alone with their baby.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Both Jesse and Ashley were emotionally distraught and crying throughout the video.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
The next night, Husband arrived for his shift looking shaky and distraught and breathing heavily.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
The first glimpse at Season Two picks up at that moment and reveals a distraught Julia alone with their baby.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
Adjective
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According to witnesses interviewed by local police, Hall became agitated after taking a significant quantity of drugs.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
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That was intentional, as a smiling Caballero admitted to enjoying the moment after the warning left him perplexed and agitated.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Many small business owners struggle to provide retirement plans, according to a Senate legislative analyst, and Americans are growing increasingly worried about their financial security in retirement.—
Madeline Luebkert,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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But, garnering the support from those within the Big Ten and SEC footprint is clearly not an aspect of this process that both Cantwell and Cruz are worried about.—
Trey Wallace,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
After the arrests, children in her van became frightened and initially refused to get out.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
11 June 2026
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Flavia Pupo, a manager at a hotel in Pinar del Río, told AP that the shaking rattled the building and frightened people in the area.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Here’s a recap of this week’s frantic pace.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
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McKenna's death gained national attention after her disappearance in the middle of the night set off a frantic search for the teenager.—
Angela George,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Children are generally afraid of ghosts, so telling them to be scared of larger bodies is deeply problematic.—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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People seem to still go to the movies for the communal experience of being scared.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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Because the road into Hunt was unpassable, the Childresses were forced into a monstrous kind of purgatory among other terrified parents at Ingram Elementary School.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
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Her 9-year-old daughter was terrified.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Their 1-0 win over England on June 29, 1950, in Brazil is considered the biggest upset in World Cup history.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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Golden State won in overtime, and Cleveland’s upset chances fizzled almost immediately.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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