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.
Today’s teenagers are attracted to Hollister’s vests, low-rise jeans and distressed sweaters for their vintage appeal. Niamh Rowe, Quartz, 28 May 2025 Styled by Jonathan Huguet, Huppert’s look also featured distressed elements and a decorative jeweled brooch on the front, as well as sunglasses by Balenciaga. Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 19 May 2025 Cat And Her Litter of Kittens Dumped Outside Rescue By Alyce Collins Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 A distressed cat and her six neonatal kittens were discovered after being dumped in separate cages without food or water, and in the sweltering sunshine. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 That's why his team was distressed when, earlier this year, the U.S. government asked them to suspend their work so that an evaluation could be conducted. Ari Daniel, NPR, 13 May 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 3 Jun. 2025.

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