distraught
English
Etymology
From Middle English distraught, merger of distract (“distracted”) and straught (“stretched, distraught”), past participle of strecchen (“to stretch”). Compare also bestraught, extraught, forstraught, etc. More at distract, stretch.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /dɪsˈtɹɔːt/
Audio (RP) (file) - Rhymes: -ɔːt
Adjective
distraught (comparative more distraught, superlative most distraught)
- Deeply hurt, saddened, or worried; incapacitated by distress.
- His distraught widow cried for days, feeling very alone.
- 2018 May 26, Daniel Taylor, “Liverpool go through after Mohamed Salah stops Manchester City fightback”, in The Guardian (London):
- […] Karius was a danger to his own team, responsible for Madrid’s two other goals and last seen wandering aimlessly around the pitch – alone, distraught and clearly traumatised – to ask forgiveness, hands clasped, from the thousands of Liverpool supporters.
- Mad; insane.
Synonyms
- distressed
- pained
Derived terms
- distraughtly
- distraughtness
Translations
deeply hurt, saddened, or worried
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