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(of merchandise or property for sale) damaged, out-of-date, or used.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
- distressedly adverb
- distressedness noun
- quasi-distressed adjective
- undistressed adjective
Etymology
Origin of distressed
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.
Nowhere is there any critical examination of this framing of distressed children as “clients” holding “goals” of changing themselves.
From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026
After the war, Jacob, back in Louisiana, bought up distressed plantations, and Bernard returned to “this rough, rural, ruined place” to help run their business and agricultural empire.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
She said: "Events like this affect people in different ways, and I recognise that many of us will feel shocked, distressed or in need of support."
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
The pilot program, from 2027 through 2031, would award grants up to $10 million, based on the program’s funding, and prioritize recipients in economically distressed communities or qualified opportunity zones.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
With every step, he grows more visibly distressed.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
