distraught

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.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪsˈtɹɔːt/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːt

distraught (comparative more distraught, superlative most distraught)

1. 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.

2. Mad; insane.

• distressed
• pained

• distraughtly
• distraughtness