Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun distress

4 senses of distress

Sense 1
distress, hurt, suffering -- (psychological suffering; "the death of his wife caused him great distress")
       => pain, painfulness -- (emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid; "the pain of loneliness")

Sense 2
distress -- (a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need); "a ship in distress"; "she was the classic maiden in distress")
       => adversity, hardship, hard knocks -- (a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship")

Sense 3
distress -- (extreme physical pain; "the patient appeared to be in distress")
       => pain, hurting -- (a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder; "the patient developed severe pain and distension")

Sense 4
distress, distraint -- (the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim; "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")
       => seizure -- (the taking possession of something by legal process)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb distress

2 senses of distress

Sense 1
straiten, distress -- (bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship)
       => trouble, put out, inconvenience, disoblige, discommode, incommode, bother -- (to cause inconvenience or discomfort to; "Sorry to trouble you, but...")

Sense 2
distress -- (cause mental pain to; "The news of her child's illness distressed the mother")
       => disturb, upset, trouble -- (move deeply; "This book upset me"; "A troubling thought")