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   Dis·tress

   /dəˈstres/

   

   noun

   • 1. extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain: "to his distress he saw that she was trembling" Similar anguishsufferingpainagonyacheafflictiontormenttorturediscomfortheartacheheartbreakmiserywretchednesssorrowgriefwoesadnessunhappinessdesolationdespairtroubleworryanxietyperturbationuneasinessdisquietangstOpposite happinesscomfort
   • ▪ the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help: "vessels in distress on or near the coast" Similar dangerperildifficultytroublejeopardyriskhazardendangermentimperilmentinsecurityinstabilityprecariousnessOpposite safety
   • ▪ suffering caused by lack of money or the basic necessities of life: "the poor were helped in their distress" Similar hardshipadversitytribulationmisfortuneill/bad lucktroublecalamitypovertydeprivationprivationdestitutionindigenceimpoverishmentpenuryneedwantlackbeggarydire straitsOpposite prosperitycomfort
   • ▪ a state of physical strain, exhaustion, or, in particular, breathing difficulty: "they said the baby was in distress"
   • 2. another term for distraint

   verb

   • 1. cause (someone) anxiety, sorrow, or pain: "I didn't mean to distress you" Similar cause anguish tocause suffering topainupsetmake miserablemake wretchedgrievesaddentroubleworrybotherarouse anxiety inperturbdisturbdisquietagitatevexharrowtormenttortureafflictrackcurseoppressplaguedoginformal:cut upOpposite calmsootheplease
   • 2. give (furniture, leather, or clothing) simulated marks of age and wear: "the manner in which leather jackets are industrially distressed" Similar ageseasonconditionmellowweathersimulate age indamagespoildentscratchchipbatterOpposite restore

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French destresce (noun), destrecier (verb), based on Latin distringere ‘stretch apart’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. distressful adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • D

     2

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • S

     1

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