distress

[dih-stres] / dɪˈstrɛs /

NOUN

pain, agony

Synonyms

STRONG

ache affliction anguish anxiety blues care concern cross dejection desolation disappointment discomfort disquietude dolor embarrassment grief headache heartache heartbreak irritation malaise misery mortification ordeal pang perplexity sadness shame sorrow stew suffering throe torment torture trial tribulation trouble twinge unhappiness vexation visitation woe worriment worry wretchedness

WEAK

bad news unconsolability

Antonyms

STRONG

advantage aid blessing calm calmness cheer comfort contentment delight ease euphoria gladness good health happiness health help joy joyfulness joyousness peace pleasure relief

WEAK

benefit miracle

NOUN

hardship, adversity

Synonyms

STRONG

bummer calamity catastrophe crunch destitution difficulty disaster downer drag exigency indigence jam misfortune need pickle pinch poverty privation rigor scrape straits throe trial trouble vicissitude want

WEAK

bad luck can of worms hard knocks hard time holy mess hot water rotten luck ticklish spot tough break tough luck unholy mess

Antonyms

STRONG

abundance advantage benefit blessing boon comfort contentment ease fortune good fortune good luck happiness luxury miracle peace pleasure plenty success wealth wonder

WEAK

health

VERB

worry, upset

Synonyms

STRONG

afflict aggrieve agonize ail bother break bug depress desolate discombobulate disquiet disturb dog eat get grieve harass harry hound hurt injure irk irritate miff nag needle oppress pain peeve perplex pester plague push rack sadden strain strap stress torment torture trouble try vex weigh wound

WEAK

be on one's case burn up do a number on get to give a hard time make it tough for nit-pick pick on push buttons tick off

Antonyms

STRONG

aid appease assist assuage be happy build calm cheer comfort cure delight discourage dissuade fix gladden heal help hide ignore leave alone make happy mend neglect placate please relieve soothe support

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In contrast, lower-quality diets were more often linked to higher levels of psychological distress.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

No fever, no gastrointestinal distress, nothing resembling a cold, flu or Covid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Currently, the charity runs a helpline that helps fighters in severe distress.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Leon Rengel is asking for at least $1.3 million in damages for "loss of liberty" and "emotional distress."

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

The frightened chick made one small distress peep and that’s all it took.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen