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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

distraught

Adjective

IPA /dɪˈstrɔːt/

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Meaning in plain English

So upset and worried that it is difficult to think calmly.

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Pronunciation

distraught/dɪˈstrɔːt/

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  1. A much-loved pet is missing

  2. Its owner is extremely upset

A distraught person is intensely worried and distressed.

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  1. He was distraught when his dog went missing.
  2. The student was distraught after losing the only copy of her project.

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He was ________ when his dog went missing.
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distraught — So upset and worried that it is difficult to think calmly.

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So upset and worried that it is difficult to think calmly.

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Word origin

An alteration of an older word distract, ultimately from Latin distractus, meaning pulled apart.

Did you know?

Distraught with worry and distraught at the news express intense distress.

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distraught

/dɪˈstrɔːt/ (Adjective)

“Use distraught for strong emotional distress, rather than a small annoyance.”

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