distressed 1 of 2

Definition of distressednext

distressed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of distress

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of distressed
Adjective
The waxed, slightly distressed exterior does a solid job of hiding scuffs and offers enough water resistance to handle light rain without issue. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026 Seniors and distressed homeowners are targeted because the system gives them no buffer against coercion. Darlene Mealy, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
The dark wood has been stained and distressed for a rustic finish. Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026 Mainstream medical groups support puberty blockers and hormonal treatment for children who are consistent in their transgender identity and distressed by the prospect of unmedicated puberty. Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distressed
Adjective
  • But, in the end, the artists – who’d been out there alone, navigating the same troubled waters – understood the potential.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Four people were wounded early Sunday in a shooting at a troubled Queens nightclub with a history of violence and murder.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Researchers believe inbreeding led to depressed survival rates in pups.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Sam is very depressed and feels lonely and isolated.
    Staff Author, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Like so many in her field, The Ohio State University oncologist Ning Jin is alarmed by the number of patients in their 30s and 40s with late-stage cancer in their lower digestive tract.
    Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The casual acknowledgement of brushing off offers of bribes alarmed some Republican activists, who will endorse a candidate for governor at their state convention on May 16.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Dickinson appeared somewhere between perturbed and seething.
    Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Blueberry plants also have a shallow root system that can be disturbed by planting annuals and is subject to competition from surrounding plants for water and nutrients.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The radiation from the flares reached Earth quickly and disturbed the ionosphere, the upper atmospheric layer that carries many radio and navigation signals.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine, derived from a clothing dye called methylene blue, was first tested on agitated and delusional patients in 1952.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Trump has long agitated for changes at CNN, and few expect his Justice Department to block the transaction.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Portland couldn’t figure out how to pass off help assignments to deal with the downhill speed of San Antonio’s guards and wings, with the Blazers’ centers distracted on the perimeter.
    Christian Clark, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The report also indicated the driver of the black truck was not suspected of being on drugs or alcohol and was not distracted when the crash happened.
    Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Over time, maintaining cleaner air can help reduce allergy flare-ups and other respiratory issues, potentially leading to lower medical expenses and a reduced reliance on ongoing treatments.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Distressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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