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
Rulli added that anyone who spots a marine mammal in distress should not intervene, stay at least 150 feet away and report it to their rescue hotline at 415-289-SEAL (7325).
—
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Mia was reported to be in distress after falling through the ice of the pond.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Later that day, police were called to Yang’s home in the 11900 block of Castle Rock Court on reports of a child in distress.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2026
And the Islamic Republic really is in distress.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 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.
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Mia was reported to be in distress after falling through the ice of the pond.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Later that day, police were called to Yang’s home in the 11900 block of Castle Rock Court on reports of a child in distress.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2026
And the Islamic Republic really is in distress.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 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 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
