NSW Selective & Scholarship

Learn “Distress”

A free exam-vocabulary guide with a precise meaning, natural context and a memory connection that makes the word easier to retrieve.

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NSW Selective & Scholarship

Distress

noun/dis-TRESS/

Meaning

A feeling of great worry, pain, or suffering.

In context

Seeing his friend fall off the bike filled him with distress.

Remember it

Distress sounds like 'this stress' — distress is this heavy stress and pain inside.

Use it well

Can be a noun or verb; use for serious upset, not mild annoyance.