What is another word for distress?

Need synonyms for distress? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Noun

Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain

Difficulty, especially when caused by lack of money

The state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help

An unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, pain, or harm

The characteristic of being needy

A person or thing that causes annoyance or difficulty

A setback, or change for the worse

A state of (typically public) dissatisfaction, disturbance, or agitation

A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness

The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the sufferings and misfortunes of others

A sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience

An unstable time or period, usually marked by intense difficulty or danger

Behavior exhibiting excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic

The quality of being remorseful

Anxiety caused by living in isolation or indoors for a long period of time

To cause significant upset to (someone)

To give an appearance of age to, especially a new object

To influence, usually emotionally

Distrain

To wear away or cause damage through applied friction

… more ▼

Noun

▲

Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain

offence^UK

disfavour^UK

disfavor^US

offense^US

rigor^US

rigour^UK

labour^UK

labor^US

dispossession

needles

dark night of the soul

clamour^UK

baulk^UK

balk^US

butterflies in the stomach

unpleasant experience

clamor^US

vapours^UK

vapors^US

thorn in someone's flesh

pain in the neck

thorn in someone's side

endogenous depression

butterflies in one's stomach

blot on the landscape

furor^US

furore^UK

more ❯

“Staff expressed intense feelings of distress in having to restrain patients.”

Noun

▲

Difficulty, especially when caused by lack of money

rigour^UK

rigor^US

labour^UK

labor^US

trials and tribulations

endeavour^UK

endeavor^US

more ❯

“These policies are causing distress to average, hard-working citizens.”

Noun

▲

The state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help

source of apprehension

being on the precipice

accident waiting to happen

more ❯

“The coastguard reported a number of false alarms when ships mistook fireworks for distress flares.”

Noun

▲

An unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, pain, or harm

butterflies in the stomach

state of nervous excitement

more ❯

Noun

▲

The characteristic of being needy

straitened circumstances

ruin

disadvantage

reduced circumstances

hand-to-mouth existence

life on the breadline

abridgment^US

abridgement^UK

being able to do with

being short of

being without

being deficient in

more ❯

Noun

▲

A person or thing that causes annoyance or difficulty

chip on your shoulder

burr under someone's saddle

burr in someone's saddle

offense^US

offence^UK

thorn in someone's side

thorn in someone's flesh

more ❯

Noun

▲

A setback, or change for the worse

rigor^US

rigour^UK

trials and tribulations

pain in the neck

stroke of ill luck

more ❯

Noun

▲

A state of (typically public) dissatisfaction, disturbance, or agitation

furore^UK

furor^US

alarums and excursions

clamour^UK

clamor^US

absence of government

more ❯

Noun

▲

A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness

Noun

▲

The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the sufferings and misfortunes of others

favor^US

favour^UK

succour^UK

succor^US

ardor^US

fervor^US

fervour^UK

ardour^UK

being on same wavelength

awareness of the feelings of others

community of interests

tranquility^US

judgment^US

judgement^UK

honor^US

honour^UK

more ❯

Noun

▲

A sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience

state of perturbation

source of amazement

source of consternation

a bolt out of the blue

skepticism^US

scepticism^UK

lack of comprehension

butterflies in the stomach

state of stupefaction

unbelief

incredulousness

dubiousness

turn up for the books

turn-up for the books

more ❯

Noun

▲

An unstable time or period, usually marked by intense difficulty or danger

problematic situation

unfortunate situation

pretty kettle of fish

unforeseen circumstances

rigor^US

rigour^UK

a difficult situation

more ❯

Noun

▲

Behavior exhibiting excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic

furor^US

furore^UK

outburst of agitation

fervour^UK

fervor^US

psychological maladjustment

mental disturbance

psychological disorder

alarums and excursions

running a temperature

clamor^US

clamour^UK

rancour^UK

rancor^US

hemorrhage^US

haemorrhage^UK

more ❯

Noun

▲

The quality of being remorseful

prickings of conscience

dishonor^US

dishonour^UK

twinges of conscience

Noun

Anxiety caused by living in isolation or indoors for a long period of time

seasonal affective disorder

temporary insanity

winter blues

Verb

▲

To cause significant upset to (someone)

agonise^UK

agonize^US

tantalise^UK

tantalize^US

demoralize^US

traumatize^US

demoralise^UK

traumatise^UK

appall^US

appal^UK

put someone off their stroke

terrorize^US

terrorise^UK

knock the stuffing out of

antagonize^US

antagonise^UK

breathe down someone's neck

scandalize^US

hurt someone's feelings

throw off

mither

hurt somebody's feelings

make your heart bleed

victimize^US

get down

scandalise^UK

hack you off

give someone the hump

put someone's back up

put someone's nose out of joint

get on someone's wick

victimise^UK

prey on someone's mind

throw into a tizz

get in your hair

drive round the twist

break someone's heart

face

give someone the blues

work on

pour cold water on

throw cold water on

get on someone's nerves

ruffle someone's feathers

rub the wrong way

make someone's hackles rise

set someone back on their heels

cause someone to lose their composure

paralyse^UK

tyrannize^US

paralyze^US

brutalize^US

brutalise^UK

pressurize^US

pressurise^UK

put the wind up someone

criticize^US

tyrannise^UK

be a pain in the neck

take control of

be a thorn in someone's side

hurt one's feelings

heavy

mess with someone's head

criticise^UK

bring tears to your eyes

get someone's dander up

hunt

get someone's back up

be brutal to

rattle one's cage

make someone's blood boil

walk all over

get in someone's hair

ride roughshod over

weigh heavily on someone's mind

get under someone's skin

raise someone's hackles

dash someone's hopes

be on the back of

break someone's spirit

get up someone's nose

cause disquiet to

muse

labour^UK

labor^US

make someone scratch their head

knock for a loop

weigh heavily on one's mind

cause someone distress

push someon's buttons

knock the wind out of

stagger

rock

knock the stuffing out of someone

occupy someone's thoughts

destabilize^US

lie heavy on someone's mind

weigh heavy on someone's mind

make one's heart bleed

bring tears to one's eyes

dampen someone's spirit

dishonour^UK

dampen someone's hopes

put off his or her stride

make someone laugh on the other side of their face

make someone laugh out of the other side of their mouth

take the wind out of someone's sails

get the knife into

make things hot for someone

make it hot for someone

destabilise^UK

make severe demands on

be a thorn in someone's flesh

get someone's hackles up

try someone's patience

fill with consternation

muck up

give a zinger

give the cold shoulder

dishonor^US

exhaust someone's patience

be a weight on someone's mind

pull the rug out from under

pull the rug from under

throw into disorder

flap

rattle someone's cage

scare the bejesus out of

be in a tizzy

be worried

raise someone's eyebrows

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

take the wind out of your sails

completely surprise

make someone's blood run cold

scare the living daylights out of

make someone's hair stand on end

make a big thing out of

make a big thing of

put out of countenance

make a meal of

make a mountain out of a molehill

tread on someone's toes

bring pressure to bear on

rule with an iron hand

rule with a rod of iron

bring someone to their knees

tug at someone's heartstrings

harsh someone's mellow

bring tears to someone's eyes

bear down

make someone's heart bleed

dampen someone's spirits

cause to feel emotional strain

overdo

cause to feel mental strain

have an adverse effect on

get on someone's back

put someone off their stride

send into a rage

get under skin

make sick

cause to be at a stand

galvanize^US

stop someone in their tracks

galvanise^UK

rub you up the wrong way

get on somebody's nerves

set one's teeth on edge

scare someone out of their wits

make someone want to throw up

strike dumb

put somebody's nose out of joint

turn one's stomach

throw into a panic

go to one's head

make your hair stand on end

strike terror into

put the fear of God into

take someone's breath away

throw into a blue funk

make someone's gorge rise

balk^US

baulk^UK

ruffle one's feathers

drive you up the wall

stroke someone's hair the wrong way

resent

set someone's teeth on edge

frighten the living daylights out of

rile up

catch somebody off balance

catch somebody unawares

spring something on

throw a curveball

rub one the wrong way

cause to lose your bearings

make someone feel nauseous

hit like a ton of bricks

shatter the illusions of

burst one's bubble

dampen the spirits of

make one's hackles rise

get on someone's case

clutter

mess with one's head

make someone's head spin

drive you to distraction

make livid

cause someone difficulty

discommodate

impress

make your hackles rise

drive you round the twist

drive you round the bend

disunify

abominate

cause to feel nauseous

make someone's stomach rise

put someone to trouble

botch

bungle

drive you off your head

drive you out of your mind

make somebody's blood boil

make someone feel sick

drive somebody up the wall

make your flesh creep

give you the creeps

make flesh crawl

make someone go out of his way

freeze your blood

inspire panic in

strike terror in

frighten out of your wits

bludgeon

fill with terror

put the frighteners on

sweep someone off their feet

render speechless

subordinate

turn someone's stomach

give someone goose pimples

make your blood run cold

make someone jump out of their skin

make blood run cold

make one's flesh creep

chill someone to the marrow

make teeth chatter

scare someone half to death

give someone the heebie-jeebies

invigorate^US

energize^US

energise^UK

envigorate^UK

make someone eat humble pie

pull down

make someone eat crow

settle someone's hash

tear down

make one feel small

put one away

put someone in their place

put away

smirch

take down a peg or two

shoot down

make eat dirt

force to eat humble pie

render unintelligible

more ❯

“He had done everything possible to distress her, including his confession of love for her.”

Verb

▲

To give an appearance of age to, especially a new object

“I hereby grant you permission to distress that table, to paint it pink and stencil flowers around the edge if that pleases you.”

Verb

▲

To influence, usually emotionally

make an impression on

tug at your heartstrings

persuade

mould^UK

mold^US

colour^UK

color^US

make you of a mind to

flavour^UK

flavor^US

categorise^UK

traumatize^US

show a preference for

favour^UK

favor^US

maneuver^US

manoeuvre^UK

categorize^US

traumatise^UK

exert an influence on

twist round one's little finger

turn to one's advantage

use to one's advantage

energize^US

galvanize^US

invigorate^US

instil^UK

instill^US

incentivize^US

galvanise^UK

envigorate^UK

incentivise^UK

fire the imagination of

give one an idea

energise^UK

gee up

more ❯

Verb

▲

Distrain

distrain

Verb

▲

To wear away or cause damage through applied friction

come to the end of its life

pulverize^US

pulverise^UK

more ❯

	Find more words!








distress
Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Advanced Search Advanced Search
Use * for blank spaces Advanced Search
Advanced Word Finder

Related Words and Phrases

What is another word for distress?

Need synonyms for distress? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Related Words and Phrases

See Also