distress

[ dih-stres ]

/ dɪˈstrɛs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR distress ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.

a state of extreme necessity or misfortune.

the state of a ship or airplane requiring immediate assistance, as when on fire in transit.

that which causes pain, suffering, trouble, danger, etc.

liability or exposure to pain, suffering, trouble, etc.; danger: a damsel in distress.

Law.

the legal seizure and detention of the goods of another as security or satisfaction for debt, etc.; the act of distraining.
the thing seized in distraining.

to dent, scratch, or stain (furniture, lumber, or the like) so as to give an appearance of age.

adjective

afflicted with or suffering distress: distress livestock; distress wheat.

caused by or indicative of distress or hardship: distress prices; distress borrowing.

verb (used with object)

to afflict with great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; trouble; worry; bother.

to subject to pressure, stress, or strain; embarrass or exhaust by strain: to be distressed by excessive work.

to compel by pain or force of circumstances: His suffering distressed him into committing suicide.

Nearby words

distrainee, distraint, distrait, distraite, distraught, distress, distress call, distress flag, distress frequency, distress gun, distress merchandise

Origin of distress

1250–1300; (noun) Middle English destresse < Anglo-French distresse, destresse, Old French < Vulgar Latin *districtia, equivalent to Latin district(us) (see district) + -ia -y³; (v.) Middle English destressen < Anglo-French destresser (Old French destrecier), derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR distress

1 agony, anguish, adversity, tribulation. See sorrow.

2 need, destitution.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR distress ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR distress

1 comfort.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR distress ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsdis·tress·ing·ly, adverbpre·dis·tress, noun, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for distressing

The girls send a cry for help…the situation of these girls is distressing.
Jihadis Release New Year’s Eve Video of Italian Female Hostages|Jamie Dettmer, Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In one of the most distressing events of the year, nerd entitlement hit 100.
10 Things That Made Us Want to Turn Off the Internet Forever in 2014|The Daily Beast|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The health care workers, too, face “distressing” conditions.
CDC: 'Window Is Closing' on Containing Ebola|Abby Haglage|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The current lack of available Simpsons clips online is distressing.
A 200-Hour ‘Simpsons’ Marathon? That’s Unpossible!|Rich Goldstein|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

What is distressing, however, is that our political system does not work that way.
The Supreme Court Has Given Us a Government Of, By, and For the 1 Percent|Geoffrey R. Stone|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His throat was not distressing him, and his voice was much better and stronger than usual.
Chapters from My Autobiography|Mark Twain
Every now and then a piercing cry rose above the constant undercurrent of moans, and the sobbing was distressing in the extreme.
With Haig on the Somme|D. H. Parry
So dense was the distressing cloud that it was impossible at times to see the length of a company.
Miss Ravenel's conversion from secession to loyalty|J. W. de Forest
The most distressing thing was that we had not a riding-habit in the family.
The Short Works of George Meredith|George Meredith
It often happens in these distressing catastrophes that the one only course open is the least palatable.
Johnny Ludlow, Second Series|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for distressing

distress

/ (dɪˈstrɛs) /

verb (tr)

to cause mental pain to; upset badly

(usually passive) to subject to financial or other trouble

to damage (esp furniture), as by scratching or denting it, in order to make it appear older than it is

law a less common word for distrain

archaic to compel

noun

mental pain; anguish

the act of distressing or the state of being distressed

physical or financial trouble

in distress (of a ship, aircraft, etc) in dire need of help

law

the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of or in satisfaction of a debt, claim, etc; distraint
the property thus seized
US (as modifier)distress merchandise

Derived Forms

distressful, adjectivedistressfully, adverbdistressfulness, noundistressing, adjective, noun

distressingly, adverb

Word Origin for distress

C13: from Old French destresse distress, via Vulgar Latin, from Latin districtus divided in mind; see distrain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for distressing (1 of 2)

distress

late 13c., "circumstance that causes anxiety or hardship," from Old French destresse, from Vulgar Latin *districtia "restraint, affliction, narrowness, distress," from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere "draw apart, hinder," also, in Medieval Latin "compel, coerce," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + stringere "draw tight, press together" (see strain (v.)). Meaning "anguish, suffering; grief" is from c.1300.

Word Origin and History for distressing (1 of 2)

distress

late 14c., from Old French destresser, from Vulgar Latin *districtiare (see distress (n.)). Related: Distressed; distressing.

Medicine definitions for distressing

distress

[ dĭ-strĕs′ ]

n.

Mental or physical suffering or anguish.

Severe strain resulting from exhaustion or trauma.

Related formsdis•tress′ adj.

distress

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of distress

Examples from the Web for distressing

British Dictionary definitions for distressing

distress

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for distress

Word Origin and History for distressing (1 of 2)

distress

Word Origin and History for distressing (1 of 2)

distress

Medicine definitions for distressing

distress

n.