in distress

phrase

1

: very upset

He was clearly in distress upon hearing the news.

2

: in a very difficult situation in which one does not have enough money, food, etc.

She's chosen to devote her life to helping those in distress.

3

of a boat, airplane, etc. : in a state of danger or desperate need

The ship was in distress.

Examples of in distress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the story circulates online, many are questioning why the Launchpad's crew didn't assist in the rescue, citing international maritime law, which requires all ships to assist people in distress. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

With city blocks burned to the ground, a shrinkage of affordable housing, and a spike in homelessness, the New York of the late seventies was a city in distress. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

When another ship is in distress, everyone in the area is obligated to respond as long as doing so doesn't put their own ship at risk. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

In the TikTok live video, Hilton appeared to be in distress and harmed himself repeatedly with a box cutter and knife. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for in distress

• abs
• acquiesce
• authoress
• bodiless
• coalesce
• decompress
• dispossess
• faithfulness
• letterpress
• mayoress
• murderess
• nonetheless