DISTRESS Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'distress' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distress are agony , misery , and suffering . While all these words 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

Q: When might 'agony' be a better fit than 'distress'?

In some situations, the words agony and distress are roughly equivalent. However, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne. // in agony over the death of their child

Q: When is 'misery' a more appropriate choice than 'distress'?

While in some cases nearly identical to distress , misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss. // the homeless live with misery every day

Q: When could 'suffering' be used to replace 'distress'?

The synonyms suffering and distress are sometimes interchangeable, but suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress. // the suffering of famine victims

distress 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈstres

Definition of distress next

as in agony

a state of great suffering of body or mind the upcoming bar exam is causing us considerable distress the survivors were in extreme distress after having been stranded on the island for a week with no food

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in risk

the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil a ship in distress

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

distress

2 of 2

verb

as in to alarm

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy don't let all the bad news distress you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun distress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distress are agony, misery, and suffering. While all these words 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

When might agony be a better fit than distress?

In some situations, the words agony and distress are roughly equivalent. However, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When is misery a more appropriate choice than distress?

While in some cases nearly identical to distress, misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

When could suffering be used to replace distress?

The synonyms suffering and distress are sometimes interchangeable, but suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of distress

Noun

Jane Doe is suing both artists for compensatory damages for physical injuries and emotional distress, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and more. —

Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024 Their analysis is based on a massive dataset of college and university information, including institution type, staffing patterns, sources of revenue, enrollments and enrollment changes, tuition revenue, measures of liquidity, financial distress, and other financial data from 2002 to 2023. —

Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

The news that Sherrod is filing a civil suit, while distressing, could offer a way out of this endless cycle of paranoia — but agreeing to settle doesn’t stop him from spending more time at his secret pad than with his family. —

Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024 The straight-leg, mid-rise style features just a hint of distressing at the knees, appearing aged from long afternoons spent circling Central Park, or drinking coffee on park benches, or whatever else Meg Ryan does in every New York City–set Meg Ryan film. —

Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for distress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distress

Noun

Having at last regained hope from the fall of the House of Assad, the Syrian people expect no less from the countries that have for so many years allowed the country’s agony to continue at their expense.

Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024
Her family, meanwhile, suffered the agony of losing their daughter while knowing the person who killed her was walking free.

NBC New York, NBC News, 3 Dec. 2024