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
Santiago is distraught and wracked with grief, while Doug and Griff now have to figure out how to replace their star with another snake to keep this production afloat.
—
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
The victim's distraught wife told ABC New York station WABC that her husband was on his way home from work when he was attacked from behind.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 Dec. 2025
Emily is distraught because her fake title isn’t catching on the way Princess Jane’s fake title already has.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Avery Jukes Avery Jukes said his wife and three daughters are distraught.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
The victim's distraught wife told ABC New York station WABC that her husband was on his way home from work when he was attacked from behind.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 Dec. 2025
Emily is distraught because her fake title isn’t catching on the way Princess Jane’s fake title already has.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Avery Jukes Avery Jukes said his wife and three daughters are distraught.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught
Adjective
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But Colcord kept probing, and Lowell grew agitated.—
Michael Waters,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
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Players from both teams shoved in front of the Providence bench, with Jones stepping in the middle as an agitated Ejiofor exchanged words with Powell.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
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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The birds were scared away by a resident’s dog.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
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As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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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The Tigers, previously 0-9 all-time at Rupp Arena, took advantage of a struggling Kentucky Wildcats squad for a 73-68 upset win.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
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The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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