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 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

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

Live in a frugal way

To wear away or cause damage through applied friction

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Noun

▲

Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain

offence^UK

disfavour^UK

disfavor^US

offense^US

dark night of the soul

clamour^UK

baulk^UK

balk^US

butterflies in the stomach

clamor^US

vapours^UK

vapors^US

endogenous depression

rancour^UK

blot on the landscape

rancor^US

rigor^US

rigour^UK

chip on your shoulder

furor^US

agonizing^US

furore^UK

agonising^UK

hemorrhage^US

haemorrhage^UK

more ❯

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

Noun

▲

Difficulty, especially when caused by lack of money

rigour^UK

rigor^US

labour^UK

labor^US

trials and tribulations

problematic situation

sad state

unfortunate situation

a pretty kettle of fish

a fine kettle of fish

unpleasant experience

unforeseen circumstances

a difficult situation

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

more ❯

Noun

▲

The characteristic of being needy

straitened circumstances

reduced circumstances

hand-to-mouth existence

life on the breadline

more ❯

Noun

▲

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

furore^UK

furor^US

alarums and excursions

fighting in the streets

clamour^UK

clamor^US

fomentation of discontent

displeasure

incitement to riot

incitement to rebellion

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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

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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

turn-up for the books

let-down

trancelike state

state of stupefaction

more ❯

Noun

▲

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

Noun

▲

The quality of being remorseful

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

traumatize^US

demoralize^US

traumatise^UK

demoralise^UK

appall^US

appal^UK

give someone a hard time

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

give someone the hump

hurt somebody's feelings

hurt someone's feelings

victimize^US

scandalise^UK

victimise^UK

make your heart bleed

get in your hair

drive round the twist

set someone back on their heels

cause someone to lose their composure

paralyse^UK

be a pain in the neck

break the heart of

put into a funk

tyrannize^US

paralyze^US

pressurize^US

brutalize^US

brutalise^UK

give someone the blues

tear to pieces

put the wind up someone

cause discomfort to

greatly upset

criticize^US

put someone's nose out of joint

tyrannise^UK

criticise^UK

bring tears to your eyes

pressurise^UK

galvanize^US

cause someone distress

galvanise^UK

make someone scratch their head

push someon's buttons

destabilize^US

break someone's heart

bring pressure to bear on

knock the stuffing out of someone

dishonour^UK

make things hot for someone

make it hot for someone

destabilise^UK

make severe demands on

give the cold shoulder

dishonor^US

put off his or her stride

take the wind out of someone's sails

fill with consternation

muck up

hit a sour note

throw into uproar

pull the rug out from under

pull the rug from under

raise someone's eyebrows

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

take the wind out of your sails

scare the bejesus out of

cast a pall over

put out of countenance

scare the living daylights out of

make someone's hair stand on end

be disagreeable

be an affront to

give offence

put someone's back up

tread on someone's toes

make a big thing out of

make a mountain out of a molehill

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

cause to feel emotional strain

overdo

cause to feel mental strain

labour^UK

have an adverse effect on

labor^US

enthral^UK

monopolize^US

enthrall^US

monopolise^UK

rub you up the wrong way

put your nose out of joint

prey on your mind

bone

grind

take the heart out of

catch somebody off balance

catch somebody unawares

drive you up the wall

balk^US

lead someone a merry dance

baulk^UK

materialize^US

materialise^UK

stop someone in their tracks

put someone off their stride

leave no stone unturned

give one the business

cause to be at a stand

breath down someone's neck

become an obsession with

be on pins and needles

be in a tiz-woz

be afraid

be in a state of anxiety

be in a state of nervousness

be in a state

stay the course

be in a lather

be in a state of agitation

cause to lose concentration

have someone do something

use strong-arm tactics on

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

categorise^UK

traumatize^US

show a preference for

favour^UK

favor^US

categorize^US

traumatise^UK

exert an influence on

flavor^US

instill^US

instil^UK

manoeuvre^UK

incentivize^US

energize^US

pressurize^US

invigorate^US

enthuse

galvanize^US

program^US

incentivise

proselytize^US

exhort

tantalize^US

galvanise^UK

envigorate^UK

egg on

pressurise^UK

energise^UK

proselytise^UK

maneuver^US

entrap

oil

bring round to the idea of

programme^UK

tantalise^UK

mobilize^US

mobilise^UK

fire the imagination of

persuade to buy

arouse someone's interest in

predetermine

gain one's confidence

show one the error of their ways

make one see the light

make someone see the light

show someone the error of their ways

dispel someone's doubts

reason someone into believing

dispel doubt

put someone's mind at rest

cause to feel certain

put someone up to something

get somebody on your side

gain somebody's support

make your mouth water

bring pressure to bear on

radicalize^US

radicalise^UK

pressurize someone into

pressure someone into

lead to do

wear down

more ❯

Verb

Distrain

Verb

Live in a frugal way

economise^UK

economize^US

husband your resources

be careful

cut down

spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar

more ❯

Verb

▲

To wear away or cause damage through applied friction

come to the end of its life

pulverize^US

pulverise^UK

more ❯

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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.

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