English · Word Candidate

distress

/dɪˈstɹɛs/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: distresses · distressing · distressed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature.

Noun

Examples

To heighten his distress, he is approached by his wife, and bitterly upbraided for his perfidy in concealing from her his former connexions (with that unhappy girl who is here present with her child, the innocent offspring of her amours, fainting at the sight of his misfortunes, being unable to reli

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A cause of such discomfort.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To cause strain or anxiety to someone.

Verb

Examples

She respects me, no doubt, but has no longer any passionate feeling for me, and my death will distress her without plunging her in despair.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To retain someone’s property against the payment of a debt; to distrain.

Verb

Examples

This power of distress, as anciently used, became as oppressive as the feudal forfeiture. It was as hard for the tenant to be stripped in an instant of all his goods, for arrears of rent, as to be turned out of the possession of his farm.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “distress” mean?

Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature.

Is “distress” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.