feeling distraught

USAGE SUMMARY

"feeling distraught" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a state of deep emotional distress or anguish. Example: After hearing the news, she was feeling distraught and unable to concentrate. Alternative expressions include "feeling devastated" and "feeling heartbroken."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Preparation for the piece left many of the dancers feeling distraught.

The Guardian

Watching the country of my birth from afar, I was feeling distraught at what had been done to the young victim.

The New York Times

He said school officials had scheduled a meeting for 7 p.m. last night to provide a "crisis team" for any parents or students feeling distraught.

The New York Times

"We are feeling distraught," she said, "that we may never 'get ahead' but will always be pedaling to just keep up".

The New York Times

Now, I know that you all loved the replacement officials and will be feeling distraught at their loss, but don't worry: here at the Guardian they understand your pain and have supplanted the regulars – Paolo and Steve – with a scab writer, me, for this week... Start making your t-shirts now.

The Guardian - Sport

The night that I turned 30, I sat in a bar feeling distraught.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"The kernel," Liddle says, "was feeling increasingly distraught at the way we were at the moment, and feeling my guilt at being complicit in it.

Independent

Its lyrics focus on longing for an estranged lover and feeling emotionally distraught when apart.

Wikipedia

But as I made my way up through the exhibit, I found myself laughing hysterically and feeling incredibly distraught with the human condition both emotional extremes left me looking inward for meaning.

Vice

Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly distraught, I fantasize about quitting my job and organizing a group of individuals who will assist me in destroying all social-networking entities.

Vice

"He wanted to throw himself against a car in the street because he was so distraught, feeling that he was the cause of the parents' divorce.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In narrative writing, combine it with sensory details or physical reactions to heighten the impact of the character's internal state.

Common error

Distraught is an extremely heavy word. Do not use it for situations that only cause mild annoyance or frustration. For instance, if you missed a bus, you might be "annoyed" or "upset", but claiming you are distraught may come across as hyperbole or insensitive to genuinely tragic situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feeling distraught" functions as a predicative adjective phrase or part of a participle clause. It is typically used with linking verbs like "to be", "to look" or "to feel" to characterize a subject's mental and emotional state. In many cases found in Ludwig, it appears in an introductory or appositive position to establish a character's mood before an action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

A comprehensive review of the data from Ludwig confirms that "feeling distraught" is a powerful and correctly formed expression for describing intense emotional turmoil. It is distinct from simple sadness, suggesting a level of agitation and despair that is often overwhelming. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is most frequently found in news and media coverage of traumatic events, where it effectively captures the human element of tragedy. While versatile, it should be reserved for contexts of genuine distress to maintain its linguistic impact. Alternatives like "devastated" or "inconsolable" may be used to vary the emotional texture of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeply distressed

Uses a more formal adverb to emphasize the level of pain

feeling devastated

Implies a sense of total destruction of one's emotional state

feeling inconsolable

Focuses on the inability to be comforted by others

overwhelmed with grief

Specifically identifies grief as the cause of the distress

feeling despondent

Suggests a loss of hope or courage alongside the distress

emotionally shattered

A more metaphorical and intense way to describe mental fatigue

utterly heartbroken

Commonly used in contexts of romantic or personal loss

highly agitated

Focuses on the outward physical and mental restlessness

spiritually crushed

Elevates the feeling to a soul-level or existential crisis

intensely troubled

A slightly more understated but still serious clinical description

FAQs

How do I use "feeling distraught" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person's state after a shock, such as: "After receiving the news of the accident, she was "feeling distraught" and could not stop pacing."

What is the difference between "feeling distraught" and "feeling sad"?

While "feeling sad" refers to general unhappiness, "feeling distraught" implies a much higher level of agitation, confusion and deep distress that often renders a person unable to think clearly.

Is it correct to say "deeply distraught"?

Yes, adding an intensifier like "deeply distraught" is common and grammatically correct to further emphasize the severity of the emotion.

Can I say "feeling overwrought" instead?

You can use "feeling overwrought" if the person is also suffering from extreme nervousness or over-excitement, though it is less common than being distraught.