n. 1 anguish, anxiety, affliction, angst, grief, misery, torment, ache, pain, suffering, agony, torture, woe, woefulness, wretchedness; unhappiness, sorrow, sadness, depression, heartache, desolation It is impossible to imagine the distress of a bereaved parent 2 calamity, trouble, adversity, catastrophe, tragedy, misfortune, difficulty, hardship, straits, trial, disaster Has he no sympathy for the distresses that have beset his people?
v. 3 bother, disturb, perturb, upset, trouble, worry, harrow, harry, vex, harass, plague, oppress, grieve, torment, torture, afflict The thought of Miss Camberley as a hostage distressed us all