distress JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/dɪˈstɹɛs/ · dis·tress
noun
- (Cause of) discomfort; a condition that causes pain or unease. The sudden loss of power left the hikers in distress.
- Serious danger or peril. Rescue crews responded to the ship in distress off the coast.
- An aversive state of stress to which a person cannot fully adapt. Prolonged financial worries can lead to chronic distress.
verb
- To cause strain, anxiety, or suffering to someone. The news of the layoffs distressed the entire staff.
- To retain someone’s property against the payment of a debt; to distrain. The landlord distressed the tenant’s furniture after rent went unpaid.
- To treat a new object so that it appears aged or worn. She distressed the wooden table with sandpaper to match the rustic décor.
Did you know? The verb sense of “distress” meaning ‘to age artificially’ became popular in the 20th‑century furniture trade, where distressed finishes were prized for their vintage charm.