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
But the idea of trading away your star player when in distress is to set yourself up to build the roster back to prominence at some point.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Benedict’s offer is met with deafening silence, before Sophie flees his embrace in distress.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
Annapolis police are urging people who see others in distress because of cold temperatures to call 911.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
While in segregation, staff observed him in distress and contacted on-site medical personnel for assistance.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in distress
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Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Benedict’s offer is met with deafening silence, before Sophie flees his embrace in distress.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
Annapolis police are urging people who see others in distress because of cold temperatures to call 911.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
While in segregation, staff observed him in distress and contacted on-site medical personnel for assistance.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 27 Jan. 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 6 Feb. 2026.
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