Distress meaning

What does “distress” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“distress” is a noun and verb with 6 meanings. Its most common meaning is: psychological suffering.

distress

psychological suffering
“the death of his wife caused him great distress”
Synonymshurt suffering
a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need)
“a ship in distress”
“she was the classic maiden in distress”
extreme physical pain
“the patient appeared to be in distress”
the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim
“Originally distress was a landlord's remedy against a tenant for unpaid rents or property damage but now the landlord is given a landlord's lien”
Synonymsdistraint

bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship
Synonymsstraiten
cause mental pain to
“The news of her child's illness distressed the mother”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University