noun

extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

to his distress he saw that she was trembling

anguish,suffering,pain,agony,ache,affliction,torment,torture,discomfort,heartache,heartbreak,misery,wretchedness,sorrow,grief,woe,sadness,unhappiness,desolation,despair,trouble,worry,anxiety,perturbation,uneasiness,disquiet,angst

verb

cause (someone) anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

I didn’t mean to distress you

cause anguish to,cause suffering to,pain,upset,make miserable,make wretched,grieve,sadden,trouble,worry,bother,arouse anxiety in,perturb,disturb,disquiet,agitate,vex,harrow,torment,torture,afflict,rack,curse,oppress,plague,dog,cut up,upsetting,worrying,affecting,painful,traumatic,agonizing,harrowing,tormenting,sad,saddening,pitiful,heartbreaking,heart-rending,tragic,haunting,disturbing,concerning,unsettling,disquieting,shocking,alarming,gut-wrenching,distressful