distressed

adjective

dis·​tressed di-ˈstrest How to pronounce distressed (audio)
: 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.
The dramatic video also captures one officer removing his jacket and leaping into the river to reach the distressed teen, who was about 20 feet from shore. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2025 The shoe’s rubber midsole features a lightly pre-distressed look, while the outsole has been upgraded with Vibram rubber and a winter-ready traction pattern. Riley Jones, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2025 The nostalgic and romantic 31-piece collection also spans distressed Madewell jeans and leather skirts and jackets, as well as giftable accessories like crew socks, hooded scarves, and floral brooches. Victoria Montalti, Refinery29, 10 Nov. 2025 Investors often come into distressed real-estate markets and transform them, buying up land on the cheap and flipping residential homes into rental units. Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025 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 16 Nov. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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