distressed
adjective
dis·tressed
di-ˈstrest 
: 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
Of course, 2008 was the start of the subprime mortgage crisis, which led to the Great Recession and housing crash, when the market was flooded with distressed homes, giving buyers all the power.
—
Diana Olick, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Today, all 21 buildings are either in receivership, foreclosed or highly distressed.
—Aaron Mondry, Freep.com, 8 Jan. 2026
This rug from Joanna Gaines, for example, can add vintage charm with its distressed finish and a pop of color thanks to its green tone.
—Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Crans-Montana, Switzerland — A Mass was held Sunday for victims of the New Year's Eve fire at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana that left 40 dead and many severely injured, as distressed parents waited for news of their children or began the long process of mourning.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Distressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distressed. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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