DISTRESSED

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does distressed mean? 

• DISTRESSED (adjective)
  The adjective DISTRESSED has 4 senses:

1. facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty

2. generalized feeling of distress

3. suffering severe physical strain or distress

4. afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

  Familiarity information: DISTRESSED used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISTRESSED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty

Synonyms:

distressed; hard-pressed; hard put; in a bad way

Context example:

found themselves in a bad way financially

Similar:

troubled (characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Generalized feeling of distress

Synonyms:

distressed; dysphoric; unhappy

Also:

dejected (affected or marked by low spirits)

unhappy (experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Suffering severe physical strain or distress

Synonyms:

distressed; stressed

Context example:

he dropped out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty breathing

Similar:

troubled (characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

Synonyms:

disquieted; distressed; disturbed; upset; worried

Context example:

one last worried check of the sleeping children

Similar:

troubled (characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need)

 Context examples 

Mr. Micawber's difficulties were an addition to the distressed state of my mind.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mr Elliot's speech, too, distressed her.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But I believe (seeing Fanny looked distressed) it must be at some other time.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“Him!—never, never. Dear Miss Woodhouse, how could you so mistake me?” turning away distressed.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

"No, no, Helen!" I stopped, distressed.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

And if you would stand by yours, you would not be much distressed by the disappointment of Miss Thorpe.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

So I said as gently as I could:—I greatly fear I have distressed you.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I never saw a man so distressed as you were by my will; unless it were that hide-bound pedant, Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

"If you tell Laurie, I'll never forgive you! She mustn't, must she, Mother?" said Meg, looking distressed.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A question about whether an individual feels those close to them are distressed by their disease or treatment.

(Distress About Illness or Treatment to Those Close to You, NCI Thesaurus)