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

Without group memberships, many people become unhappy, distressed and sometimes unable to function. —Masud Husain, Big Think, 14 Apr. 2026

The distressed, scalloped iron creates that vintage feel, and the bright blue adds a pop of color. —Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

The bright blue color adds a pop to any space, while the distressed wood offers a look that feels like it’s been passed down through generations. —Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026

District 3 Commissioner Beasley-Pittman represents many economically distressed areas where residents would most feel the pinch of higher taxes or fewer services. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 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