How to Use distressed in a Sentence

distressed

adjective
  • The government provided funds to the economically distressed city.
  • She felt emotionally and physically distressed.
  • Donations were given to financially distressed families.
  • What are kids distressed about?
    — Ross W. Greene, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Swags of distressed brown braids loop around the bed’s edges.
    — Briana Miller | , oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2023
  • Her distressed screaming is a gas, at least.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
  • Knitwear was distressed, with rough edges and slits, in both tops and dresses.
    — Colleen Barry, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2022
  • Leather will show wear over time, but that distressed look is part of the charm in our opinion.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Their distressed midcalf moto boots were at the top of my wish list.
    — Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Just add your favorite distressed denim and do a half-tuck with the tank.
    — Brittany Vanderbill, PEOPLE.com, 5 Apr. 2022
  • But many of those still working are fearful, distressed and stretched thin.
    — Alexandra Olson, chicagotribune.com, 19 Oct. 2020
  • She was disturbed by how distressed the child looked during her first weeks on the shift.
    — Hannah Dreier Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
  • Even her partner looked distressed, walking around the house with his hands on his head.
    — Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • Styles spanned distressed jeans, long jean shorts and distressed black denim skirts.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Available in beige, dark green or gray with a distressed finish that looks lived-in.
    — Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • There wasn’t a single distressed person to see.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Dress it up with wide-leg trousers, like Theron did, or down with a pair of distressed blue jeans.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 27 June 2025
  • Others favor more brash and distressed looks.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 June 2026
  • The distressed text on this Christmas sign lends it a rustic feel.
    — Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2021
  • Ricky Lott received a notice in the mail this year that left him distressed.
    — Christopher Rowland, Washington Post, 12 May 2026
  • All the kids from the distressed communities do get free meals.
    — Alison Cross, Hartford Courant, 29 Jan. 2023
  • The owners were told to keep the calls short and end them if their parrot became distressed.
    — Catherine Garcia, The Week, 4 May 2023
  • Once the piece is distressed to your liking, wipe down excess sawdust with a tack cloth.
    — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, 9 Mar. 2021
  • The distressed hardwood floors, which have held up to the kids as well as two family dogs.
    — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 5 Nov. 2020
  • This isn’t the first time state police top brass helped a distressed person on a highway.
    — Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 13 Aug. 2020
  • The jeans features side slits at the hem with distressed details throughout.
    — Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 11 July 2024
  • In addition to black, the leather shoes come in a distressed brown design.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
  • It’s designed to have a distressed look that will disguise dirt and debris.
    — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
  • But this tale isn’t an account of some distressed damsel who gets swept up in the underworld.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Jan. 2024
  • Nienaber stretched out her hand to the distressed monarch, cooing and coaxing it like a pet.
    — Rohan Preston, Star Tribune, 22 Jan. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'distressed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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