distressed
/dɪˈstrest/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈstrest/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈstrest/ (ame, mw)
distressed — adjective
- distressedpositive
- more distressedcomparative
- most distressedsuperlative
1. feeling very unhappy, worried, or upset because something unpleasant or stressfu
feeling very unhappy, worried, or upset because something unpleasant or stressful has happened to you or someone you care about.
Lakshmi felt deeply distressed when she heard the news about the accident.
distressed + when-clause for emotional cause
The family was visibly distressed by the sudden change in the treatment plan.
distressed by + noun phrase; visibly distressed
Minh could see how distressed his grandmother looked after the storm damaged her home.
Pedro wrote a letter to the manager, distressed at the unfair decision.
Hugo was distressed to learn that his application had been rejected.
- upset
a more general, everyday word that can describe mild or serious emotional disturbance
- troubled
suggests ongoing worry or inner conflict rather than a reaction to a single event
- distraught
stronger than distressed; implies extreme agitation and inability to think clearly
文法句型
distressed + at/by/about + noun phrase
feel/look/seem + distressed
distressed + to-infinitive
distressed + that-clause
用法筆記
Frequently followed by a prepositional phrase (at / by / about) naming the cause, or by a to-infinitive. The cause is typically a specific event or situation, not a personality trait. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes financial hardship rather than emotional upset.
常見錯誤
2. experiencing serious money problems, such as being unable to pay debts, meet bas
experiencing serious money problems, such as being unable to pay debts, meet basic living costs, or keep a business running.
The bank created a special program to help distressed homeowners keep their houses.
distressed + noun group [homeowners/families/farmers]
Adina's parents lost their jobs, leaving the family financially distressed for almost two years.
financially distressed — common adverb collocation
The charity provides free meals and shelter for distressed families across the city.
Several small factories in the region are distressed after the main buyer went bankrupt.
The government sent emergency funds to distressed farming communities in the drought area.
- impoverished
more formal and suggests long-term poverty rather than a crisis period
- needy
focuses on lack of basic necessities rather than the broader economic situation
- struggling
softer and more informal; can describe temporary difficulty as well as serious hardship
文法句型
distressed + noun [families/farmers/areas/industries]
financially distressed
economically distressed
用法筆記
Commonly used attributively before nouns for people or entities affected by poverty or economic crisis: distressed families, distressed businesses, distressed areas. When used predicatively, it is often modified by the adverb financially.
常見錯誤
3. deliberately treated or manufactured to look old, worn, or used, as a style choi
deliberately treated or manufactured to look old, worn, or used, as a style choice in fashion, furniture, or interior design.
Lara bought a distressed leather jacket that looked like a vintage find from the 1970s.
distressed + material noun [leather/denim/wood]
The restaurant's designer chose distressed wooden beams to create a rustic atmosphere.
Sophia wore a pair of distressed jeans with holes at both knees to the concert.
Eri found a distressed cabinet at the market that looked antique but was actually new.
文法句型
distressed + material noun [leather/denim/wood/fabric]
distressed + product noun [jeans/jacket/furniture]
用法筆記
This sense refers exclusively to manufactured appearance — the item is deliberately made to seem older or more worn than it really is through techniques such as sanding, chemical washing, or scraping. Do not use this sense for items that are genuinely old and well-used.
常見錯誤
4. suffering from physical pain, injury, illness, or exhaustion that puts the body
suffering from physical pain, injury, illness, or exhaustion that puts the body under severe strain, often visible in the person's appearance or breathing.
The injured cyclist looked pale and distressed, barely able to stand after the crash.
look distressed — visible physical state
After running the marathon, Arjun was too distressed to speak for several minutes.
The distressed animal was found lying by the roadside and taken to a shelter.
Dewi's distressed breathing worried the nurses in the emergency room.
- comfortable
free from pain or physical stress
- well
in good physical health
文法句型
look/sound/seem + distressed
distressed + by/from + physical cause
用法筆記
Describes observable physical suffering — labored breathing, inability to move, visible pain — rather than emotional upset. Distinguish from sense 1: a person can be emotionally distressed (sense 1) without being physically distressed (sense 4). In medical writing, 'respiratory distress' and 'fetal distress' are fixed expressions using the noun form.