distressed

[dih-strest] / dɪˈstrɛst /

ADJECTIVE

upset

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afflicted agitated anxious distraught jittery miffed perturbed shaky troubled

STRONG

bothered bugged concerned discombobulated distracted dragged exercised harassed peeved ripped saddened shook spooked tormented wired worried wrecked

WEAK

all torn up antsy basket case bummed out bundle of nerves cut up disconsolate distrait fidgety hyper in a stew in a tizzy inconsolable jumpy shook-up shot down strung-out unconsolable unglued up the wall uptight wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm cool happy peaceful pleased untroubled

STRONG

unworried

WEAK

collected comforted glad joyful

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.

"But without a speech and language therapist there, these issues might be missed and the patient might not be able to communicate they're distressed so this is an aspect of patient safety."

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Ishaan says on occasions he has had to stop taking calls because he has become so "distressed, frustrated and angry" and the abuse has made him question his long-term future in England.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

It’s starting from a distressed base—even after the recent gain, it lags behind the S&P 500 by 11 percentage points annualized over the past five years—with no support from Wall Street amid management turmoil.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

I was distressed about who I would be if my arm was permanently damaged.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

I noticed that Samir had positioned himself between me and the distressed crowd.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Vocabulary lists containing distressed

"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Cry Me A River: Synonyms for "Sad"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

myPerspectives 6.3

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!