What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
distress
Example
The news of her father's illness caused her great distress. [distress: noun]
Example
The loud noise from the construction site was causing distress to the residents. [distress: verb]
pain
Example
He felt a sharp pain in his back after lifting the heavy box. [pain: noun]
Example
The loss of her pet caused her a lot of emotional pain. [pain: noun]
Example
It's a pain to have to wake up early on weekends. [pain: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pain is more commonly used than distress in everyday language. Pain is a common experience that most people have felt at some point in their lives, while distress is a less common experience that may require more specific vocabulary to describe.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between distress and pain?
Both distress and pain can be used in formal and informal contexts, but distress may be more commonly used in professional or medical settings to describe emotional or mental states.
