openly distressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "openly distressed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is visibly or transparently showing their distress or emotional turmoil. Example: "She was openly distressed during the meeting, unable to hide her feelings about the recent changes in the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Staff members, typically discreet, grew openly distressed.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When Iyal is distressed, Chancer is distressed.

The New York Times - Magazine

In fact, 34 members of the NDP wrote Horwath an open letter explaining that they feel "deeply distressed" by her sloppy leadership, and openly threatened to not even vote for her this time around.

Vice

Cong, who sounds increasingly distressed, continues to ask Schiel to talk openly about his crimes, and Schiel keeps saying, "Sorry, sorry".

The New Yorker

This distressed his daughter.

The New Yorker

Q Mostly distressed projects?

The New York Times

He analyzes distressed companies.

The New York Times

It distressed me, though.

The New York Times - Books

I was very distressed.

The New York Times - Sports

Whose distressed baby is it?

The New Yorker

Gold distressed leather.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "openly distressed" when you want to emphasize that someone is not hiding their distress and is visibly displaying their emotional state.

Common error

While "openly distressed" is grammatically correct, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more nuanced alternatives like "visibly concerned" or "expressed unease" depending on the specific tone and context required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "openly distressed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where 'openly' modifies 'distressed'. According to Ludwig, it correctly describes someone visibly showing their distress. The adverb 'openly' emphasizes the lack of concealment or attempt to hide the emotion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "openly distressed" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone who is visibly showing their distress. According to Ludwig, its use is valid in written English. While primarily found in news and media contexts, it's essential to consider the formality of your writing; in highly formal contexts, alternatives like "visibly concerned" or "expressed unease" might be more appropriate. The phrase indicates a lack of concealment of one's distress, making it clear to observers. Alternatives include "visibly upset", "clearly troubled", and "noticeably agitated".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

visibly upset

Focuses on the visual manifestation of distress, highlighting that the person's upset state is apparent.

clearly troubled

Emphasizes the presence of a problem or worry that is easily noticeable.

noticeably agitated

Highlights the restlessness and unease in the person's behavior.

plainly worried

Stresses the evident concern and anxiety experienced by the person.

unmistakably anxious

Underscores the certainty with which the person's anxiety can be detected.

patently disturbed

Indicates that the person's emotional state is disrupted in a way that is clear to observers.

unreservedly distraught

Emphasizes the lack of restraint in expressing deep sorrow or agitation.

unconcealed grief

Highlights the overt and undisguised nature of the person's sorrow.

frankly miserable

Focuses on the honest and direct expression of unhappiness.

demonstrably distressed

Stresses that the distress is capable of being shown or proven.

FAQs

How can I use "openly distressed" in a sentence?

You can use "openly distressed" to describe someone who is visibly showing their emotional turmoil. For example: "She was "openly distressed" during the meeting, unable to hide her feelings".

What are some alternatives to "openly distressed"?

Alternatives include "visibly upset", "clearly troubled", or "noticeably agitated", each conveying a similar but slightly different nuance.

Is it more appropriate to say "openly distressed" or "visibly distressed"?

Both "openly distressed" and "visibly distressed" are correct, but "openly" emphasizes the lack of concealment, while "visibly" simply focuses on the fact that the distress can be seen.

Can "openly distressed" be used in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "openly distressed" might be too informal for highly academic or professional contexts. Consider alternatives like "visibly concerned" or "expressed unease" for a more formal tone.