distressed

adjective

dis·​tressed di-ˈstrest How to pronounce distressed (audio)
: of, relating to, or experiencing economic decline or difficulty
federal grants for distressed cities

Examples of distressed in a Sentence

She felt emotionally and physically distressed. The government provided funds to the economically distressed city. Donations were given to financially distressed families.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nearby, next to some avocado trees, Kristopher Carbone’s generator let out a final distressed sputter. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025 Police in Greensboro, North Carolina, are urging the community to share any information related to the case of Marissa Carmichael, a Black mother of five who vanished one year ago on Jan. 14, 2024, from an Exxon gas station shortly after making a distressed call to 911. Deena Zaru, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025 The Badger Trust also operates a helpline for distressed badgers. Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025 Sliwa said the Guardian Angels will now focus on conducting wellness checks on homeless individuals, as well as those who seem emotionally distressed. George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for distressed 

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distressed was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near distressed

Cite this Entry

“Distressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distressed. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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