distress

dis·tress  (d-strs)

tr.v. dis·tressed, dis·tress·ing, dis·tress·es

1. To cause strain, anxiety, or suffering to. See Synonyms at trouble.

2. Law To hold the property of (a person) against the payment of debts.

3. To mar or otherwise treat (an object or fabric, for example) to give the appearance of an antique or of heavy prior use: "There are the fakesnew rugs which have been intentionally distressed for an older look" Hatfield MA Valley Advocate.

4. Archaic To constrain or overcome by harassment.

n.

1. Anxiety or mental suffering.

2.

a. Severe strain resulting from exhaustion or an accident.

b. Acute physical discomfort.

c. Physical deterioration, as of a highway, caused by hard use over time: pavement distress.

3. The condition of being in need of immediate assistance: a motorist in distress.

4. Law

a. The act of distraining or seizing to compel payment.

b. The goods thus seized.

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[Middle English distressen, from Old French destresser, from destresse, constraint, from Vulgar Latin *districtia, from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere, to hinder; see distrain.]

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dis·tressing·ly adv.

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distress

Noun

1. extreme unhappiness or worry

2. great physical pain

3. financial trouble

Verb

1. to upset badly

2. in distress in dire need of help [Latin districtus divided in mind]

distressing adj
distressingly adv

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	distress - psychological suffering; "the death of his wife caused him great distress" hurt, suffering painfulness, pain - emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid; "the pain of loneliness" anguish, torture, torment - extreme mental distress self-torment, self-torture - self-imposed distress tsoris - (Yiddish) trouble and suffering wound - a figurative injury (to your feelings or pride); "he feared that mentioning it might reopen the wound"; "deep in her breast lives the silent wound"; "The right reader of a good poem can tell the moment it strikes him that he has taken an immortal wound--that he will never get over it"--Robert Frost
	2.	distress - a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need); "a ship in distress"; "she was the classic maiden in distress" anguish - extreme distress of body or mind adversity, hard knocks, hardship - a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship" pressure - an oppressive condition of physical or mental or social or economic distress throe - hard or painful trouble or struggle; "a country in the throes of economic collapse"
	3.	distress - extreme physical pain; "the patient appeared to be in distress" hurting, pain - a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder; "the patient developed severe pain and distension"
	4.	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" distraint seizure - the taking possession of something by legal process
Verb	1.	distress - bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship straiten discommode, disoblige, incommode, inconvenience, put out, trouble, bother - to cause inconvenience or discomfort to; "Sorry to trouble you, but..."
	2.	distress - cause mental pain to; "The news of her child's illness distressed the mother" disturb, trouble, upset - move deeply; "This book upset me"; "A troubling thought" besiege - cause to feel distressed or worried; "She was besieged by so many problems that she got discouraged"

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distress

verb 1. upset, worry, trouble, pain, wound, bother, disturb, dismay, grieve, torment, harass, afflict, harrow, agitate, sadden, perplex, disconcert, agonize, fluster, perturb, faze, throw (someone) off balance

noun 2. suffering, pain, worry, anxiety, torture, grief, misery, agony, sadness, discomfort, torment, sorrow, woe, anguish, heartache, affliction, desolation, wretchedness

noun 3. need, suffering, trouble, trial, difficulties, poverty, misery, hard times, hardship, straits, misfortune, adversity, calamity, affliction, privation, destitution, ill-fortune, ill-luck, indigence

Translations

distress [dɪsˈtrɛs] n (= anguish) → angustia (= want); miseria (= pain); dolor m (= danger); peligro

vt → afligir; [pain] → doler;

in distress [ship etc] → en peligro

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distress [dɪsˈtrɛs] n → détresse f (= pain); douleur f

vt → affliger;

in distress [ship] → en perdition; [plane] → en détresse;

distressed area (Brit) → zone sinistrée

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distress [dɪsˈtrɛs] n → Verzweiflung f

vt → Kummer machen +dat;

in distress (ship) → in Seenot;

(person) → verzweifelt;

distressed area (Brit) → Notstandsgebiet nt

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distress [dɪsˈtrɛs] n → angoscia (= pain); dolore m

vt → affliggere;

in distress [ship etc] → in pericolo, in difficoltà;

distressed area (BRIT) → zona sinistrata