I. noun
the state of being in serious trouble or in mental or physical anguish
in great distress over the decision she had to make
Synonyms: agony, dolor, misery, passion, suffering
Related Word: affliction, cross, trial, tribulation, visitation; anguish, grief, heartbreak, sorrow, woe; exigency, pass, pinch, strait; difficulty, hardship, rigor, vicissitude; ache, pain, pang, throe, twinge
Contrasted words: comfort, comforting, consolation, solace, solacing; allaying, alleviation, assuagement, ease, relief, relieving; peace, security
II. verb
1.
Synonyms: try 2, harass, irk, pain, strain, stress, trouble
Related Word: afflict, rack, torment, torture
Contrasted words: allay, alleviate, assuage, lighten, mitigate, relieve
2.
to cause pain or suffering to
the death of his longtime friend distressed him deeply
Synonyms: aggrieve, constrain, grieve, hurt, injure, pain
Related Word: harass, strain, stress, try, trouble; depress, oppress, weigh
Contrasted words: comfort, console, solace; aid, assist, help
3.
Synonyms: trouble 1, ail, cark, upset, worry
Related Word: annoy, harry, pester, plague