in distress
idiom
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
Houston, ranked second, had a high percentage for the number of people with accounts in distress, accounting for 8% of the city's population.
—
Irene Wright, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The rescue took place in the area of Branford Point where crews responded on the report of a goose possibly in distress and stuck in the ice, according to the Branford Professional Firefighters IAFF 2533.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Cal Fire's San Mateo-Santa Cruz said on social media that firefighters responded to a report of a man and a woman in distress passing through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and after an accident on the water, they became stranded on a remote bank with no road or trail access.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Each specialist is trained in crisis response and de-escalation, listening carefully and bringing calm to conversations that may begin in distress.
—Catherine Rea, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in distress
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Irene Wright, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The rescue took place in the area of Branford Point where crews responded on the report of a goose possibly in distress and stuck in the ice, according to the Branford Professional Firefighters IAFF 2533.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Cal Fire's San Mateo-Santa Cruz said on social media that firefighters responded to a report of a man and a woman in distress passing through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and after an accident on the water, they became stranded on a remote bank with no road or trail access.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Each specialist is trained in crisis response and de-escalation, listening carefully and bringing calm to conversations that may begin in distress.
—Catherine Rea, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in distress
Cite this Entry
“In distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20distress. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
