distressed

adjective

dis·​tressed di-ˈstrest How to pronounce distressed (audio)
: 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
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.
The state has closed the books on its contract with MGT of America, which managed the financially distressed Gary Community School Corp. from 2017 to 2024. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 Last spring, Kylie Jenner rocked a pair of distressed Levi’s shorts in a snap shared on her Instagram. Emily Weaver, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025 That’s why coach Michael Malone wasn’t too distressed by the result. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2025 Southern California officials are advising beachgoers to avoid distressed sea lions in the Malibu area. Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distressed

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distressed was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Distressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distressed. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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