1. Feeling upset or worried:
* "She was deeply distressed by the news of her father's illness."
* "The students were distressed by the sudden closure of the school."
2. Showing signs of wear and tear:
* "The distressed denim jeans were very fashionable."
* "The old wooden table had a distressed finish that gave it character."
3. To cause emotional pain or suffering:
* "The war distressed the entire nation."
* "The loss of her pet deeply distressed the young girl."
4. In finance, a distressed asset refers to a company or property that is in financial trouble.
5. In design, distressed refers to a style that uses techniques to give a piece an aged or worn look.
To understand the meaning of "distressed" in a particular context, you need to consider the sentence and the surrounding text.