distress
psychological suffering
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,286 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 7,623 times across 191,625 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- psychological suffering also: hurt, suffering the death of his wife caused him great distress
- a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need) a ship in distressshe 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 also: distraint 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
- bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship also: straiten
- cause mental pain to The news of her child's illness distressed the mother
distress in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The Duke wore an air of comic distress.
The Reflections of Ambrosine: A Novel · Elinor Glyn · Chapter 1
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In my position I 'm bound to recognise the distress there is amongst them.
Plays : First Series · John Galsworthy · Chapter 1
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Ah just laments of my unjust distress, Ah fond desires whom reason could not guide!
Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles: Phillis - Licia · Martha Foote [Editor] Crow · Chapter 1
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I had hours of madness, of discouragement, of distress, during which solitude was loathsome to me.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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None the less was Sim's distress as poignant as if the grounds for it had been more real.
The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance · Hall, Sir Caine · Chapter 1