noun
Common
distress
dih-STREHS
Distress (noun) means Serious pain, suffering, or worry, especially of an urgent kind. Example: “The dog whined in distress when it was left alone.”
noun
1
Serious pain, suffering, or worry, especially of an urgent kind.
"The dog whined in distress when it was left alone."
"The medics rushed to treat the patient in respiratory distress."
"Her voice was full of distress on the phone."
verb
1
To cause someone anxiety, pain, or worry.
"It distresses me to see animals being treated badly."
"The sudden noise distressed the baby, who began crying."
"The graphic footage distressed many viewers."
How to use distress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSerious suffering or worry, or the act of causing it.
Common pairings
signs of distress
in distress
cause distress
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Word forms
- Plural
- distresses
- Third person singular
- distresses
- Past tense
- distressed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog whined in _____ when it was left alone.
Etymology
From Old French destrecier, "to restrain or afflict," ultimately from Latin distringere, "to pull apart" or "stretch tight" — the same root behind district and strain.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for distress
See all rhymes for distress →Frequently asked questions
What does “distress” mean?
The word “distress” means serious pain, suffering, or worry, especially of an urgent kind. In plain terms, serious suffering or worry, or the act of causing it.
How do you pronounce “distress”?
“Distress” is pronounced dih-STREHS (/dɪˈstɹɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “distress” in a sentence?
Here is “distress” used in a sentence: “The medics rushed to treat the patient in respiratory distress.”
What is another word for “distress”?
Words with a similar meaning to “distress” include extremity, anguish, rend, difficulty, grief and hardship.
What is the opposite of “distress”?
The opposite of “distress” — its antonyms — are calmness and pleasure.
What part of speech is “distress”?
Depending on how it is used, “distress” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “distress” come from?
The word “distress” comes from Latin. From Old French destrecier, "to restrain or afflict," ultimately from Latin distringere, "to pull apart" or "stretch tight" — the same root behind district and strain.
Is “distress” a common word?
“Distress” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between distress and stress?
Stress refers to general mental or physical tension, which is often ongoing and manageable, while distress describes more serious pain, suffering, or worry, especially of an urgent kind. In short, distress is a sharper and more severe state than everyday stress.
What is the difference between distress and distressed?
Distress is a noun meaning serious suffering or worry, or a verb meaning to cause someone anxiety, pain, or worry. Distressed is the adjective form, describing a person who feels upset or, in a separate sense, furniture or fabric deliberately treated to look worn and aged.
What are common collocations with distress?
Distress often pairs with words such as emotional distress, financial distress, and signs of distress, and it appears in fixed phrases like a damsel in distress and a distress signal. As a verb it takes an object, as in "the news distressed her."
