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
Just before noon on June 7, lifeguards at Fernandina Beach were flagged down after a child was in distress, according to a news release from the Fernandina Beach Fire Department.
—
Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Miley Cyrus, Mayor Pauline Miley’s transition from enfant terrible to one of the industry’s most creative staples suggests a kind of mid-career stability present in damsel in distress turned politician Pauline.
Katy Perry, Daisy
Obviously!!!
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 June 2025
As a longtime volunteer with Southwest Search Dogs, Swain trained her dogs, Spencer, a black Labrador retriever, and Rita, a yellow Labrador retriever, to follow scents up to five miles in efforts to find runaway or abducted children and adults in distress.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
A little over a decade ago, actresses in these kind of movies were handcuffed to the role of the damsel in distress.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
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.
Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Miley Cyrus, Mayor Pauline Miley’s transition from enfant terrible to one of the industry’s most creative staples suggests a kind of mid-career stability present in damsel in distress turned politician Pauline.
Katy Perry, Daisy
Obviously!!!
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 June 2025
As a longtime volunteer with Southwest Search Dogs, Swain trained her dogs, Spencer, a black Labrador retriever, and Rita, a yellow Labrador retriever, to follow scents up to five miles in efforts to find runaway or abducted children and adults in distress.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
A little over a decade ago, actresses in these kind of movies were handcuffed to the role of the damsel in distress.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 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 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share