French Conversation · Level 152
30 words
French word
désarroi
Pronunciation
IPA/dezaʁwa/
Meaning
- masculine noundistress
Example
Après la mauvaise nouvelle, elle était en désarroi.
After the bad news, she was in distress.
More examples
La lettre a semé un certain désarroi parmi les employés.
The letter caused some distress among the employees.
Core concept
A person facing a crisis with inner bearings gone and no clear next step.
Common phrases
se sentir en désarroi
feel distressed
susciter le désarroi
cause distress
manifester du désarroi
show distress
Similar words
inquiétude: Worry about what may happen or about troubling events.
angoisse: A severe, suffocating anxiety that causes deep distress.
confusion: A state in which thoughts or circumstances become muddled.
détresse: Profound sorrow and suffering that creates a need for help.
Definition in French
État de trouble moral ou affectif, marqué par l'incertitude et la perte de repères.
Word origin
French désarroi combines dés- with Old French arroi, meaning order or arrangement, and thus originally expressed a loss of order.
Usage tips
- Désarroi is masculine, as in le désarroi, and être en désarroi describes a serious state of emotional confusion.