Distress Definition & Meaning

distress
noun
  1. psychological suffering; "the death of his wife caused him great distress"
  2. a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need); "a ship in distress"; "she was the classic maiden in distress"
  3. extreme physical pain; "the patient appeared to be in distress"
  4. 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"
verb
  1. bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship
  2. cause mental pain to; "The news of her child's illness distressed the mother"

Synonyms for distress

distraint noun

the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim

♫ Rhymes
hurt adj

suffering from physical injury especially that suffered in battle; "nursing his wounded arm

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
ill adv

(`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
suffering adj

troubled by pain or loss; "suffering refugees" very unhappy; full of misery; "he felt depressed and miserable

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
trouble noun

a source of difficulty; "one trouble after another delayed the job"; "what's the problem?" an angry disturbance

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
worry noun

something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness; "New York traffic is a constant concern

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Distress" in song lyrics

See how distress is used in real songs:

  • "While the road to truth is long and full if distress"
    2 Live Crew — Revelation
  • "You flip the script so you can play the damsel in distress"
    Blueprint — See Thru
  • "With no finesse in distress"
    Camp Lo — Park Joint

Words that rhyme with distress

See all rhymes for distress →

Usage tips for "distress"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "distress" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for distress to find words that pair well.

Use "distress" in a verse

Now that you know what "distress" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Explore more

♫ Rhymes with distress ↔ Synonyms for distress 🔬 Words containing distress

Frequently asked questions

What does distress mean?
psychological suffering; "the death of his wife caused him great distress" 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
What part of speech is distress?
Distress is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does distress have?
Distress has 6 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

Explore More Word Tools

Look up another word