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Definition of distraught

distraught

/dɪˈstrɔːt/
dis · traught
Adverb:distraughtly
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distraught Lexical Profile

distraught Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Deeply upset, agitated, or overwhelmed with anxiety, grief, or worry.

Example

"The distraught parents waited anxiously at the hospital for news about their child."

2

Mentally deranged, crazed, or insane (now archaic or literary).

Example

"In the tragic final act of the play, the distraught monarch wanders aimlessly across the stormy heath."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for distraught

• Nearby Words

distraction
distractive
distractor
distraught
distress
distressed
distressful

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in the late 14th century, the word is an alteration of the obsolete Middle English adjective 'distract' (from Latin 'distractus', meaning 'pulled in different directions'), reshaped by analogy with native past participles such as 'caught' and 'taught'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Distraught. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/distraught
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