Distress vs. Duress

Distress vs. Duress — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Distress and Duress

Distressnoun

(Cause of) discomfort.

Duressnoun

(obsolete) Harsh treatment.

Distressnoun

Serious danger.

Duressnoun

Constraint by threat.

Distressnoun

(legal) A seizing of property without legal process to force payment of a debt.

Duressnoun

(legal) Restraint in which a person is influenced, whether by lawful or unlawful forceful compulsion of their liberty by monition or implementation of physical enforcement; legally for the incurring of civil liability, of a citizen's arrest, or of subrogation, or illegally for the committing of an offense, of forcing a contract, or of using threats.

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Distressnoun

(legal) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction.

Duressverb

To put under duress; to pressure.

Someone was duressing her.The small nation was duressed into giving up territory.

Distressverb

To cause strain or anxiety to someone.

Duressnoun

compulsory force or threat;

confessed under duress

Distressverb

(legal) To retain someone’s property against the payment of a debt; to distrain.

Distressverb

To treat a new object to give it an appearance of age.

a pair of distressed jeansShe distressed the new media cabinet so that it fit with the other furniture in the room.
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Distressnoun

psychological suffering;

the death of his wife caused him great distress

Distressnoun

a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need);

a ship in distressshe was the classic maiden in distress

Distressnoun

extreme physical pain;

the patient appeared to be in distress

Distressnoun

the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim;

Originally distress was a landloard's remedy against a tenant for unpaid rents or property damage but now the landlord is given a landlord's lien

Distressverb

cause mental pain to;

The news of her child's illness distressed the mother