Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Distress \Dis*tress"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Distressed}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Distressing}.] [Cf. OF. destrecier. See {Distress},
   n.]
   1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with
      calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable.

            We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
                                                  --2 Cor. iv.
                                                  8.

   2. To compel by pain or suffering.

            Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a
            sacrifice of duty.                    --A. Hamilton.

   3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.

   Syn: To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict;
        worry; annoy.

Source : WordNet®

distressed
     adj 1: facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty; "the
            troubled car industry"; "distressed companies need
            loans and technical advice"; "financially hard-pressed
            Mexican hotels are lowering their prices"; "we were
            hard put to meet the mortgage paymentng"; "it was
            apparent that the magazine was in trouble"; "found
            themselves in a bad way financially" [syn: {hard-pressed},
             {hard put}, {in a bad way(p)}, {in trouble(p)}]
     2: generalized feeling of distress [syn: {dysphoric}, {unhappy}]
        [ant: {euphoric}]
     3: suffering severe physical strain or distress; "he dropped
        out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty
        breathing"; "the victim was in a bad way and needed
        immediate attention" [syn: {stressed}, {in a bad way(p)}]
     4: afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or
        grief; "too upset to say anything"; "spent many disquieted
        moments"; "distressed about her son's leaving home";
        "lapsed into disturbed sleep"; "worried parents"; "a
        worried frown"; "one last worried check of the sleeping
        children" [syn: {disquieted}, {disturbed}, {upset}, {worried}]