distraught
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for distraught, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Extremely upset, worried, or overwhelmed with emotion.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use distraught
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
distraught over
distraught parents
left distraught
Etymology
From Middle English distraught, a blend of distract (in an older sense meaning "pulled apart mentally") and straught, an old past participle of stretch — so originally something like "stretched to breaking point."
Full origin of distraught →Frequently asked questions
What does “distraught” mean?
The word “distraught” means extremely upset, worried, or overwhelmed with emotion. In plain terms, so upset or distressed that you can barely function.
How do you pronounce “distraught”?
“Distraught” is pronounced dihs-TRAWT (/dɪsˈtɹɔːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “distraught” in a sentence?
Here is “distraught” used in a sentence: “She was distraught after hearing the news.”
What part of speech is “distraught”?
“Distraught” is an adjective.
Where does the word “distraught” come from?
The word “distraught” comes from Middle English. From Middle English distraught, a blend of distract (in an older sense meaning "pulled apart mentally") and straught, an old past participle of stretch — so originally something like "stretched to breaking point.".
Is “distraught” a common word?
“Distraught” is an uncommon word in modern English.
