distressed

adjective

dis·​tressed di-ˈstrest How to pronounce distressed (audio)
Synonyms of distressednext
: of, relating to, or experiencing economic decline or difficulty
federal grants for distressed cities

Examples of distressed in a Sentence

She felt emotionally and physically distressed. The government provided funds to the economically distressed city. Donations were given to financially distressed families.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Garcia was distressed after the collision, deputies say, and had slurred speech, bloodshot and watery eyes and the smell of alcohol on her breath. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026 The question hung like black crepe in his family’s small apartment on Buffalo’s distressed east side. Dan Barry, New York Times, 12 May 2026 Ricky Lott received a notice in the mail this year that left him distressed. Christopher Rowland, Washington Post, 12 May 2026 In September 2017, Meghan Markle wore a pair of distressed jeans to the Toronto Invictus Games. Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for distressed

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distressed was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Distressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distressed. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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