Definition

Adjective 1. Suffering from extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain: Describes a state of being deeply troubled, upset, or in mental anguish. 2. Suffering from severe physical strain or exhaustion: Describes a state of being physically worn out, often to the point of having difficulty functioning. 3. Experiencing severe financial difficulty: Describes a person, company, or entity facing serious economic hardship or trouble.

Usage and Examples

• Mental/Emotional State:
  • She was distressed about her son's leaving home.
  • The distressed parents waited for news.
  • He sounded deeply distressed on the phone.
• Physical State:
  • The lost hiker was found cold and distressed.
  • The animal was distressed and having difficulty breathing.
• Financial State:
  • The government offered loans to distressed companies.
  • They were too distressed financially to consider a vacation.

Advanced Usage

• "to be distressed by/at/about something": A common collocation to specify the cause of the anxiety or sorrow.
  • He was visibly distressed by the news.
  • She is distressed about the upcoming exam.
• "in a distressed state": A phrase emphasizing the severity of the condition.
  • The rescue team found the sailors in a distressed state.

Variants and Related Words

• Distress (noun): A state of extreme sorrow, pain, or need.
  • The ship sent out a distress signal.
  • He caused her great distress.
• Distress (verb): To cause someone anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
  • The news distressed him greatly.
• Distressing (adjective): Causing distress.
  • It was a distressing sight.

Synonyms

• Agitated: Feeling or appearing troubled or nervous.
• Tormented: Experiencing or expressing severe mental or physical suffering.
• Hard-pressed: Experiencing severe difficulty, especially financial.
• Bereft: Deprived of or lacking something, especially a non-material asset, leading to distress.

Antonyms

• Composed: Having one's feelings and expression under control; calm.
• Untroubled: Not feeling, showing, or affected by anxiety or problems.
• Prosperous: Successful in material terms; flourishing financially.

Related Phrases

• Distressed area: A region experiencing severe economic depression.
  • The government is investing in distressed areas.
• Distressed merchandise/goods: Items sold at a low price because they are damaged, imperfect, or from a bankrupt stock.
  • The store has a section for distressed merchandise.

Adjective

1. afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
   • too upset to say anything
   • spent many disquieted moments
   • distressed about her son's leaving home
   • lapsed into disturbed sleep
   • worried parents
   • a worried frown
   • one last worried check of the sleeping children
2. suffering severe physical strain or distress
   • he dropped out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty breathing
3. generalized feeling of distress
4. facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty
   • distressed companies need loans and technical advice
   • financially hard-pressed Mexican hotels are lowering their prices
   • we were hard put to meet the mortgage payment
   • found themselves in a bad way financially