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
Earlier this year, a Carnival cruise ship saved five people in distress on a small boat in May.
—
Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Earlier that month, the line’s Carnival Paradise ship rescued five people from a small boat in distress south of Cabo San Antonio, Cuba.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
That includes the requisite talking animal sidekick, Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and the damsel in distress, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz).
—Skyler Trepel September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Obviously, Belly’s in distress.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in distress
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Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Earlier that month, the line’s Carnival Paradise ship rescued five people from a small boat in distress south of Cabo San Antonio, Cuba.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
That includes the requisite talking animal sidekick, Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and the damsel in distress, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz).
—Skyler Trepel September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Obviously, Belly’s in distress.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 Aug. 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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