distressed
Americanadjective
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showing or suffering from distress; worried or upset.
They got a call from a distressed mother whose child had gone missing.
We could tell from the distressed expression on his face that the news was bad.
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characterized by poor conditions or lack of resources.
The distressed economy has left many families struggling to make ends meet.
More help is needed for schools in distressed neighborhoods.
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(of merchandise or property for sale) damaged, out-of-date, or used.
The library periodically sells off distressed books.
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(of real estate) foreclosed and offered for sale.
Some investors seek out distressed properties to buy at a low price and make a profit on.
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(of furniture) purposely blemished or marred so as to give an antique appearance.
The distressed wooden chest in the corner of the room added a touch of rustic charm.
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(of fabric or clothing) made or processed to appear faded, wrinkled, frayed, or worn, as if from long, steady use.
Our best-selling jeans are the ones in distressed denim.
adjective
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much troubled; upset; afflicted
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in financial straits; poor
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(of furniture, fabric, etc) having signs of ageing artificially applied
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economics another word for depressed
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of distressed
Explanation
Distressed is an adjective that describes a general feeling of unhappiness, like the distressed feeling you have when your team is about to lose the big game. Distressed can also describe feeling stressed out and tired because of worry. You feel worn out and pulled in different directions — which rings true to the word's origin: the Latin word districtus, meaning "drawn apart." Being distressed physically means your body is injured and hurts, and if you've ever seen jeans called "distressed," you know they've been made to look worn and possibly even falling apart.
Vocabulary lists containing distressed
"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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myPerspectives 6.3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It definitely stands out, because judges do this only when they’re very distressed.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
"But without a speech and language therapist there, these issues might be missed and the patient might not be able to communicate they're distressed so this is an aspect of patient safety."
From BBC • May 17, 2026
He said the "distressed" Ghanaians had registered at the country's embassy in Pretoria to be rescued in response to an advisory by the foreign ministry "following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks".
From BBC • May 13, 2026
The wave of sympathy tipped into public anger on April 1 when regional authorities announced they were convinced the badly injured and distressed animal could no longer be saved.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
They both wore tightly wrapped robes and the groggy, distressed expressions of adults who hadn’t expected to be awakened.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
