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(of merchandise or property for sale) damaged, out-of-date, or used.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
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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.
Caring for a single, distressed marine mammal can take significant time and resources.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Perrin and 11 other winemakers in the Pessac-Léognan appellation had to receive special permission to water their vines from France’s winemaking authority, which sent inspectors to ensure the plants were sufficiently distressed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
However, she became distressed when her ideas were copied by or "inspired" her male contemporaries – including Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg and Lucas Samaras – whose works would be displayed at more prestigious galleries.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org in the UK.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
I noticed that Samir had positioned himself between me and the distressed crowd.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
