distraught — deeply upset and agitated; extremely worried or distressed
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: deeply upset and agitated; extremely worried or distressed
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈstrɔːt/
Example Sentences
- The mother became distraught when her toddler disappeared in the supermarket for five minutes.
- He was so distraught about his exam results that he ate an entire chocolate cake for breakfast.
- The distraught cat owner put up 50 missing posters around the neighborhood.
distraught
ADJECTIVE[/dɪˈstrɔːt/]
deeply upset and agitated; extremely worried or distressed

The mother looked distraught when she couldn't find her child at the busy fair.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From the past participle of the obsolete verb 'distract,' which comes from Latin 'distractus' meaning 'pulled apart.' The word evolved from the literal sense of being pulled in different directions to the figurative sense of being mentally confused or emotionally disturbed.
Breakdown
dis- (apart) + tract (pull, from Latin trahere) + -aught (archaic past participle suffix) = distraught (pulled apart mentally, deeply agitated)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The mother became distraught when her toddler disappeared in the supermarket for five minutes.”
“He was so distraught about his exam results that he ate an entire chocolate cake for breakfast.”
“The distraught cat owner put up 50 missing posters around the neighborhood.”
“She looked completely distraught when she realized she had been wearing her shirt inside out all day at work.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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