adjective
Uncommon
distraught
dihs-TRAWT
Distraught (adjective) means Extremely upset, worried, or overwhelmed with emotion. Example: “She was distraught after hearing the news.”
adjective
1
Extremely upset, worried, or overwhelmed with emotion.
"She was distraught after hearing the news."
"The distraught parents searched the crowd for their child."
How to use distraught
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo upset or distressed that you can barely function.
Common mistake
Stronger than just "sad" or "worried" — distraught implies being almost overwhelmed by emotion.
Common pairings
distraught over
distraught parents
left distraught
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more distraught
- Superlative
- most distraught
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was _____ after hearing the news.
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for distraught
See all rhymes for 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.
