distress

²distress

verb

Definition of DISTRESS

transitive verb

1

: to subject to great strain or difficulties <homes distressed by poverty>

2

archaic : to force or overcome by inflicting pain

3

: to cause to worry or be troubled : upset <don't let the news distress you>

4

: to mar (as clothing or wood) deliberately to give an effect of age <a distressed table>

— dis·tress·ing·ly \-ˈstre-siŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of DISTRESS

1. <don't let all the bad news distress you>

First Known Use of DISTRESS

14th century

Related to DISTRESS

Synonyms: agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, disturb, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry

Antonyms: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Related Words: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy (or chivvy), exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve

Near Antonyms: allay, alleviate, assuage; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

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