distraught

[dih-strawt]

adjective

1. distracted; deeply agitated.

2. mentally deranged; crazed.

distraught

/ dɪˈstrɔːt /

adjective

1. distracted or agitated

2. rare,  mad

Other Word Forms

• distraughtly adverb
• overdistraught adjective
• undistraught adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of distraught¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English variant of obsolete distract “distracted,” by association with straught, old past participle of stretch; distract

Word History and Origins

Origin of distraught¹

C14: changed from obsolete distract through influence of obsolete straught, past participle of _stretch

Example Sentences

"I am sad, distraught," said the left-wing influencer Dean Withers, 21, who is known for posting about political issues and debating conservatives, including Kirk.

From BBC

She appeared to be laughing and running away from the distraught mother wombat.

From BBC

She was best known to most of the public as the elegant woman who presented the trophies at Wimbledon each year, once famously having to comfort a distraught losing finalist.

From BBC

"I couldn't see straight. I was just distraught. We basically lost the baby at, like, 24 weeks."

From BBC

The woman said she was "distraught" and the encounter lasted about a minute.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitated 
• anxious 
• concerned 
• confused 
• crazy 
• distressed 
• frantic 
• hysterical 
• mad 
• perturbed 
• tormented www.thesaurus.com
• troubled www.thesaurus.com