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

Walz remembered when one of her patients came in distressed after a fierce argument with her boyfriend. —Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 2 Aug. 2025

These high-rise shorts feature a distressed hem, a double-button fly, and, not to mention, several roomy pockets. —Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 31 July 2025

The cooling, noncommittal, lightly distressed sound of Swag is an answer of sorts. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 26 July 2025

Additionally, at least 14 states have enacted laws that allow any person to rescue a distressed animal, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin. —Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 24 July 2025

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