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

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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 One distraught woman sat on the ground next to a large pool of blood as another woman embraced her. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026 Some jurors cried while others looked distraught during the testimony. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Leaving the Door Open For More S Pen fans were distraught when Samsung removed support for its beloved stylus from the Z Fold 7 in 2025. — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 22 July 2026 Laertes becomes deeply distraught over his son’s two-decade absence, a grief that had already claimed his wife, Odysseus’ mother, Anticlea. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for distraught

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distraught

Adjective

Following instructions from the kidnappers (unbeknownst to his increasingly agitated comrades), Lee drives out to meet them for the exchange, only to wreck his car and become distracted saving a nearby woman, Hua (Moon Lee).

— Jake Cole, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
During the interview at TMZ‘s offices, West grew increasingly agitated, pacing the newsroom while discussing opioid use and liposuction.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of agitated

Adjective

Teams — worried about how a politically defiant Black quarterback on the roster would impact their bottom lines — over the next several seasons signed dozens of inferior quarterbacks to round out their depth charts.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Los Angeles’ identity and workers’ livelihoods are at stake, say worried residents who fear that Paramount will leave the state.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of worried

Adjective

Fulham’s current rest-defence shape leads to frantic back-tracking defending, while the opposition can pull the centre-back partnership across the pitch with passes in behind and switches into the channels.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Booth was in Toronto with his wife to attend an international convention for the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) when delegates from New York suddenly received frantic calls and left the meeting.

— Kaanita Iyer, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of frantic

Adjective

Instead, coaches have become more and more terrified through the years of seeing their players getting hurt during largely meaningless games in August.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Tempe police ultimately convinced the couple, who were initially too terrified to report the incident, to share what had happened to them, documents said.

— Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrified

Adjective

An upset win would not have redefined Miami as anything but a team taking necessary steps up from the foot of a mountain.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
First elected in 2020 in an upset race, Raman is running close to Bass in the Mayoral polls, and has seen an uptick as the campaign has kicked into post-summer high-gear.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of upset

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distrait

distraught

distress

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“Distraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distraught. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of distraught

adjective

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