distressed

adjective

dis·​tressed di-ˈstrest 

: 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

Arturo Holmes | Getty Images Authentic generates about $38 billion in systemwide retail sales and has become a major force in the retail industry, known for buying the intellectual property behind popular brands that are distressed or bankrupt and licensing that IP for lucrative royalties. —Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 20 May 2026

According to the group, Brothers to the Rescue helped save more than 4,000 distressed rafters and boaters trying to escape communist Cuba. —Hank Tester, CBS News, 20 May 2026

First, market signals have suggested Shein’s determination to invest in distressed fashion brands and retailers. —Clara Ludmir, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Her distressed screaming is a gas, at least. —Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for distressed

• acquiesced
• coalesced
• dispossessed
• manifest
• overdressed
• overstressed
• prepossessed
• reassessed
• reinvest
• repossessed
• unaddressed
• uncompressed