severely distressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severely distressed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is experiencing intense emotional or mental suffering. Example: "After hearing the news of the accident, she was severely distressed and needed support from her friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

In addition to offering to cancel its own contracts, Goldman offered to buy all of the insurance A.I.G. had written for several other banks at severely distressed prices, according to three people briefed on the discussions.

The New York Times

One is asked to indicate whether each event had occurred or not, and to indicate an overall impact of the reported events combined on a scale from 0 (no distress) to 3 (severely distressed).

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Oncologists recognized the presence of severe distress only in 11 of the 30 severely distressed patients.

British Journal of Cancer

Instead, it suggested initiating an access target of 20percenttoto reach the "missing middle"—the people who are severely distressed but told they are not severe enough to access funded help, yet.

Vice

The categorical model ensures that no implicit weight is assigned to distress categories and provides estimates for the probability of respondents classifying themselves as being mild, moderately or severely distressed compared to the baseline of no distress.

BMJ Open

In addition, there is one more argument in favour of refraining from screening for just any depressive or anxiety disorder (as opposed to more severe disorders only) in a sample of relatively severely distressed patients (who have gone on sick leave) in primary care.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

.maintenance problems continued many buildings decayed rapidly". By 1991, a special Congressional report would focus on "severely-distressed public housing"—and lead to widespread demolition of such infamous projects as the Robert Taylor Homes in Chicago and Techwood Homes in Atlanta.

Forbes

While leaders connected to virtual schools often stress that they typically serve severely economically distressed children, the students attending Idaho Virtual Academy did not appear to be significantly poorer than those in the state at-large, according to the report.

HuffPost

Many patients, particularly the most severely psychologically distressed, continued to require other forms of support, particularly domiciliary individual therapy.

British Journal of Cancer

The guinea pigs apparently died of dehydration, and the cat was severely malnourished and distressed.

HuffPost

These were mostly males, edentates, people who had never cared much about their oral health and a few severely frail people distressed by pain.

BMC Oral Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "severely distressed", provide specific details about the source or cause of their distress to offer a clearer picture of their situation.

Common error

Avoid using "severely distressed" in casual conversation or writing. It is often more appropriate to use simpler alternatives like "very upset" or "really bothered" unless the context warrants a more formal and emphatic expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severely distressed" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It is used to qualify a noun, indicating the intensity of distress experienced by the subject. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severely distressed" is a grammatically sound and impactful way to describe a state of intense emotional or mental suffering. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, such as news reporting, scientific literature, and professional communications. While "severely distressed" is versatile, it is essential to use it judiciously, considering simpler options for less formal situations. The phrase appears most commonly in News & Media and Science sources, making it a strong choice when aiming for a descriptive term that is both accurate and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeply troubled

Emphasizes the internal emotional state of being burdened by significant problems.

acutely distraught

Highlights the sudden and intense nature of the emotional upset.

extremely upset

Focuses on the high degree of emotional disturbance.

intensely anguished

Draws attention to the profound suffering experienced.

gravely concerned

Shifts the focus to worry and apprehension about a serious situation.

highly anxious

Highlights feelings of unease, worry, and fear.

terribly afflicted

Emphasizes the impact of suffering or hardship.

profoundly affected

Focuses on the deep and lasting impact of an event or situation.

seriously bothered

Indicates a state of being significantly disturbed or worried.

sorely grieved

Emphasizes the feeling of deep sorrow and sadness.

FAQs

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

You can use "severely distressed" to describe someone experiencing intense emotional or mental suffering. For example: "The victims of the disaster were "severely distressed" and in need of immediate support."

What can I say instead of "severely distressed"?

Alternatives include "deeply troubled", "acutely distraught", or "extremely upset" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "severely distressed"?

It is most appropriate in formal or professional contexts when describing a state of intense emotional or mental suffering. It's less suitable for casual conversation, where simpler alternatives may be more fitting.

What's the difference between "severely distressed" and "distressed"?

"Distressed" indicates a state of worry or unhappiness, while ""severely distressed"" suggests a much more intense and overwhelming emotional or mental suffering. The addition of "severely" amplifies the degree of distress.