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dis·tress
 distress
- pronunciation:
- dih
stres
- parts of speech:
- noun, transitive verb
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
physical or emotional stress or suffering, or anything that causes suffering.
He's been experiencing distress since his wife died.The accident caused a great deal of distress for the whole family.- synonyms:
- affliction, anxiety, pain, suffering, tribulation, trouble, worry
- antonyms:
- comfort, peace
- similar words:
- agony, angst, anguish, calamity, cross, desolation, difficulty, discomfort, dismay, distraction, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, sorrow, strain, straits, stress, tax, torment, torture, woe
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| definition 2: |
a state of extreme need or trouble.
In its second year, the company found itself in severe financial distress.The coast guard received a call from a ship in distress.- synonyms:
- trouble
- antonyms:
- well-being
- similar words:
- adversity, danger, difficulties, hardship, jeopardy, misery, misfortune, need, peril, straits
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| related words: |
ache, alarm, care, discomfort, disturbance, hurt, malaise, matter, mischief, mourning, nerve, pain, travail, trial, trouble, upset, worry, wound |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
distressed, distresses, distressing |
| definition 1: |
to cause stress or suffering in; worry or afflict.
The news that their son needed surgery distressed them.- synonyms:
- afflict, aggrieve, agonize, harrow, pain, trouble, worry
- antonyms:
- calm, comfort, please, relieve
- similar words:
- ail, anguish, bother, discomfort, dismay, disturb, grieve, lacerate, nag, perturb, sadden, strain, stress, tax, torment, upset, wrench
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| definition 2: |
to treat (wood surfaces or furniture) in order to age in appearance, as by denting or staining.
- similar words:
- age, antique
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| related words: |
afflict, agonize, alarm, concern, dent, desolate, disagree, dishearten, exercise, gnaw, pinch, plague, shake, trouble, vex, wound |
| derivations: |
distressing (adj.), distressingly (adv.) |
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