distress

1 of 3

noun

dis·​tress di-ˈstres How to pronounce distress (audio)
plural distresses
1
law
a
: seizure and detention of the goods of another as pledge (see pledge entry 1 sense 1) or to obtain satisfaction of a claim by the sale of the goods seized
b
: something that is distrained
2
a
: pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind : trouble
gastric distress
The patient showed no obvious signs of distress.
severe emotional distress
voiced their distress over the delays
b
: a painful situation : misfortune
3
: a state of danger or desperate need
a ship in distress

distress

2 of 3

verb

distressed; distressing; distresses

transitive verb

1
: to subject to great strain or difficulties
homes distressed by poverty
2
archaic : to force or overcome by inflicting pain
3
: to cause to worry or be troubled : upset
don't let the news distress you
4
: to mar (something, such as clothing or wood) deliberately to give an effect of age
a distressed table
distressed jeans
distressingly adverb

distress

3 of 3

adjective

1
: offered for sale at a loss
distress merchandise
2
: involving distress goods
a distress sale
Choose the Right Synonym for distress

distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.

distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

some people live in misery every day

agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Examples of distress in a Sentence

Noun Citizens voiced their distress over delays in fixing the problem. The patient showed no obvious signs of distress. He suffered severe emotional distress as a result of the accident. Verb don't let all the bad news distress you
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.
Noun
OpenAI and Meta last month announced changes to how their chatbots respond to teenagers asking questions about suicide or showing signs of mental and emotional distress. Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025 Colorado law defines stalking, in part, as when a person knowingly and repeatedly follows, approaches, contacts or communicates with another person in a way that causes that person serious emotional distress. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
She was particularly distressed by Kennedy’s June decision to fire the entire vaccine advisory board and stack it with his allies, but recent months have offered even more opportunities for stress and indignation. Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said on social platform X that the loss of lives and damage caused by heavy rains in Nepal are distressing. CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
But the policy itself, which requires all patients who test positive to be isolated, including young children and babies, has caused significant levels distress among parents. Simone McCarthy and Yong Xiong, CNN, 4 Apr. 2022 The attractiveness of investing in both public and private post-distress equities in this part of the cycle will likely remain very interesting for the medium-term. George Schultze, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2021 See All Example Sentences for distress

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English destresse, from Anglo-French destresce, from Vulgar Latin *districtia, from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere — see distrain

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of distress was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distress. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

distress

1 of 2 noun
dis·​tress dis-ˈtres How to pronounce distress (audio)
1
: great suffering of body or mind : pain, anguish
2
: a painful situation : misfortune
3
: a condition of danger or desperate need
a ship in distress

distress

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cause to experience painful difficulties
2
: to cause to worry or be troubled : upset
distressingly adverb

Medical Definition

distress

noun
dis·​tress dis-ˈtres How to pronounce distress (audio)
: pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind
gastric distress
respiratory distress

Legal Definition

distress

noun
dis·​tress
1
: seizure and detention of the goods of another as pledge or to obtain satisfaction of a claim by the sale of the goods seized
specifically : seizure by a landlord of a tenant's property to obtain satisfaction of arrearages in rent

Note: Distress is regulated by statute where available. It has been held unconstitutional by some courts.

2
: pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind see also emotional distress
Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French destrece, literally, tightness, anguish, deprivation, from Old French, ultimately from Late Latin districtus severe, from past participle of distringere to hinder, punish see distrain

More from Merriam-Webster on distress

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