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
Walker was distraught heading up the tunnel after his second ejection, having let his emotions get the best of him.
—
Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
In a recording of the call later released by police, Sigg and her son – both emotionally distraught – sound frustrated by the dispatcher’s questions, feeling they were not being taken seriously.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Cormier also discussed Aspinall appearing distraught over the crowd’s reaction.
—Antonio Losada, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
The post consisted of two dashcam images of a distraught 12-year-old who, desperate to heal her sick puppy, got behind the wheel for the first time and tried to drive to the vet.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
In a recording of the call later released by police, Sigg and her son – both emotionally distraught – sound frustrated by the dispatcher’s questions, feeling they were not being taken seriously.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Cormier also discussed Aspinall appearing distraught over the crowd’s reaction.
—Antonio Losada, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
The post consisted of two dashcam images of a distraught 12-year-old who, desperate to heal her sick puppy, got behind the wheel for the first time and tried to drive to the vet.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
Adjective
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On a tech podcast released last weekend, Altman appeared to grow agitated when host Brad Gerstner asked how OpenAI would fund the commitments given current revenues.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
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Lairmore, one of only two witnesses called, testified that officers perceived a potential threat from an agitated Dunn.—
Andrew Goudsward,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In response, the White House is planning to adjust its messaging strategy to focus on affordability to try to win over voters who are worried about the high cost of living with plans to emphasize new tax breaks and show progress on fighting inflation.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Are Americans worried about inflation just wrong?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Nearly a week later, Scott and Kodi Allred, a couple traveling to visit their son at the University of Northern Colorado, saw the frightened black dachshund darting along the same stretch of road near Elk Mountain.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sometimes, a frightened reaction is inexplicable.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Marissa’s frantic initial attempts to find him and figure out what happened create a suspenseful, frightening opening.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
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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 (Fanning), whose nanny, Carrie Finch (Sophia Lillis), becomes the prime suspect.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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When one teen is scared or tired of the process, the other girl is there to encourage her.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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One of the women, one of his first girlfriends, was very scared [to be part of the series].—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Dramatic body cam video shows a terrified boy was being held by the throat when his knife-wielding captor was killed by a deputy, the Florida investigators say.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Mamdani's win was seen as an upset to the establishment, since the 67-year-old Cuomo is the son of a three-time New York governor and held the position himself for a decade beginning in 2011.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
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Boise State fans could have been upset when they were upset at home by Fresno State as their season continued to slide away from them.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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