Breadcrumb Home > Dictionary > Index D distressed area: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: distressed' ar'ea Pronunciation: [key] a region so severely damaged by a flood, hurricane, or other natural catastrophe that its inhabitants need food, clothing, shelter, and economic aid from national charities or the federal government. See Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. distressed distress flag ✖ Related Content Daily Word Quiz: tautology Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language