distress
noun
1. psychological suffering
- the death of his wife caused him great distress
Similar word(s): hurt, suffering
Definition categories: feeling, pain, painfulness
2. a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need)
- a ship in distress
- she was the classic maiden in distress
Definition categories: state, adversity, hardship
3. extreme physical pain
- the patient appeared to be in distress
Definition categories: state, hurting, pain
4. the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim
- Originally distress was a landlord's remedy against a tenant for unpaid rents or property damage but now the landlord is given a landlord's lien
Similar word(s): distraint
verb
1. bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship
Similar word(s): straiten
Definition categories: social, bother, discommode, disoblige, incommode, inconvenience, trouble
2. cause mental pain to
- The news of her child's illness distressed the mother
Definition categories: emotion, disturb, trouble, upset
Sentences with distress as a verb:
- She distressed the new media cabinet so that it fit with the other furniture in the room.