English Lexicon

Distress

/dɪsˈtrɛs/
nounverbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

    "The sudden loss of her job caused her immense emotional distress."
  2. 2

    A state of danger or desperate need, typically requiring immediate assistance.

    "The ship sent out an emergency radio signal while in distress."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'distress' originates from the Old French 'destresse', which comes from the Latin 'distractio', meaning 'to pull apart'. Over time, it evolved to denote a state of suffering or pain, both physically and emotionally.

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