1. Psychological suffering
   "the death of his wife caused him great distress";
   - hurt, suffering
    
2. A state of adversity (danger, affliction or need)
   "a ship in distress"; "she was the classic maiden in distress"
    
3. Extreme physical pain
   "the patient appeared to be in distress"
    
4. 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";
   - distraint

1. Cause mental pain to
   "The news of her child's illness distressed the mother"
    
2. Bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship
   "The new policies distressed small businesses";
   - straiten

Derived forms: distressing, distresses, distressed

Type of: adversity, bother, discommode [archaic], disoblige, disturb, hard knocks [informal], hardship, hurting, incommode [archaic], inconvenience, pain, painfulness, put out, seizure, trouble, upset

Encyclopedia: Distress