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
People in the Sunshine State who have threatening encounters with the animals or who see them in distress are asked to call 888-404-3922.
—
Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
Missing healthcare directives can leave families in distress during medical emergencies.
—Cody Barbo, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The children were in distress, according to police and a neighbor.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
The feature is the latest in a series of new parental controls the company is launching this month, including the ability to link to their teen’s account, disable certain features and receive notifications if their teen is in distress.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in distress
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Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
Missing healthcare directives can leave families in distress during medical emergencies.
—Cody Barbo, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The children were in distress, according to police and a neighbor.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
The feature is the latest in a series of new parental controls the company is launching this month, including the ability to link to their teen’s account, disable certain features and receive notifications if their teen is in distress.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
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 29 Sep. 2025.
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