DISTRAUGHT Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

distraught

adjective

di-ˈstrȯt

Definition of distraught

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 While police continued to investigate John's motive, distraught parents, teachers and others gathered outside the school Saturday to leave flowers, pray and cry. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 In a move that had the audience distraught but should’ve been expected at some point, Guillermo and Witney are sent home Tuesday night. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 The latter seemed distraught over the fact that his first postseason had just ended with a sweep in the ALDS. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 Sun, who was given a wild card entry by tournament organizers and was making her WTA Tour debut, appeared distraught after the loss. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distraught

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught

Adjective

Caregivers for dementia patients, whether family members at home or employees in an institution, can face daily challenges from residents who may be uncooperative or agitated, but advocates emphasize that caregivers must stay patient and respectful.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
Yoko said her daughter simply tried to prevent an agitated resident from biting others by putting her hand around the person’s chin.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitated

Adjective

Maybe that sounds counterintuitive to folks worried about how the Bears are going to supply their roster with high-end talent in the next couple of years, and there will be a host of needs on defense alone.

— Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Delawalla adds that many voters may also be worried about public health, particularly given the ongoing measles crisis and the summer’s cyclosporiasis outbreak.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of worried

Adjective

Discovering that your identity has been stolen can leave you feeling angry, frightened and unsure where to begin.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
In one video, a young orangutan can be seen crouching in the corner of a small, dark crate, its frightened eyes wide open.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

The Democratic nominee against Knott hopes for an upset in a year when even Republican members in safe seats like the 13th District are running scared.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Everyone is scared to testify against Szabo, so his legal case is dismissed.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of scared

Adjective

Synagogues canceled Sabbath prayers, while terrified Jewish citizens were warned to conceal skullcaps and flee home.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Word spread across the city that the Taliban had kill lists of Afghan women activists, and hundreds of terrified women went into hiding.

— Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrified

Adjective

There was no upset this time in the season opener for TCU men’s basketball as the Horned Frogs rolled to a 98-59 win over Lindenwood Monday night at Schollmaier Arena.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Hafley was naturally upset about Ollie Gordon’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that turned into a 3rd and 5 into a 3rd and 20 that the Dolphins didn’t convert during the Patriots’ 21-0 run.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of upset

Browse Nearby Words

distrait

distraught

distress

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of distraught

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cockamamie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes