distress

noun
UK: /dɪˈstres/
US: /dɪˈstres/

  1. A state of extreme worry, sadness, or pain.

    1. She felt distress after losing her keys. [ ] [ ]
    2. The news of the accident caused her considerable distress and anxiety. [ ] [ ]

  2. A situation in which you are suffering or are in great danger.

    1. The ship sent out a distress signal. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many people are facing financial distress due to the economic downturn. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

pain worry torment trouble agony grief suffering anguish upset
distress verb

  1. To make someone feel very worried, anxious, or upset.

    1. The bad news distressed her a lot. [ ] [ ]
    2. It deeply distressed me to see how little food was available. [ ] [ ]

  2. To damage something to make it look older or more worn.

    1. They distressed the jeans to make them look fashionable. [ ] [ ]
    2. The furniture was distressed to give it an antique appearance. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "distress" in English means: A state of extreme worry, sadness, or pain., A situation in which you are suffering or are in great danger..

The phonetic transcription of "distress" is /dɪˈstres/ in British English and /dɪˈstres/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "distress": pain, worry, torment, trouble, agony, grief, suffering, anguish, upset.

Example usage of "distress": "She felt distress after losing her keys.". More examples on the page.