1
as in agony
a state of great suffering of body or mind
the upcoming bar exam is causing us considerable distress the survivors were in extreme distress after having been stranded on the island for a week with no food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in risk
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil
a ship in distress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to alarm
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
don't let all the bad news distress you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of distress
Kennedy Sessions, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2025
For dog owners, diarrhea just comes with the territory and seeing a beloved pet in gastrointestinal distress can be awful for our noses and emotions.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Now onto the bad, which is particularly distressing: Baltimore.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for distress
Noun
Anderson is seeking $25,000 in damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, funeral and medical expenses, pain, and suffering, records show.
—Kennedy Sessions, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2025
For dog owners, diarrhea just comes with the territory and seeing a beloved pet in gastrointestinal distress can be awful for our noses and emotions.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
Verb
His job, which took him back to his native New Orleans, was working out problems at municipal entities distressed by Hurricane Katrina.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Now onto the bad, which is particularly distressing: Baltimore.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for distress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distress
Noun
-
But playing with an already-strained right calf, the Oshkosh, Wis., native stepped awkwardly towards the basket and crumbled to the court in agony when his leg appeared to pop.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
24 June 2025
-
Finding alternatives that would end this agony would be one of American science’s most important achievements.—
Rachel Fobar,
Vox,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
If a child is experiencing an acute mental health crisis such as suicidal ideation or self-harm, Miller says most states allow the parent to act alone, especially if delaying poses a safety risk.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
23 June 2025
-
That risk is both credible and growing, said Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, a former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, following a 700% increase in similar attacks on Israeli critical infrastructure.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
The man, wearing a black polo and slacks, looked up from a table saw, alarmed.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
-
The potential downside of glucose monitoring is that people who are (perhaps needlessly) alarmed by their CGM data will swap out healthy carbs such as fruit and whole grains for foods that are less healthy—butter, for example, or bacon and red meat.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Drawing heavily from Qiu’s biography, My Father’s Son centers on an 18-year-old protagonist, Qiao, who loses his voice while attempting to deliver the eulogy at his father’s funeral and flees in anguish.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
-
Many of us watch in anguish as our compatriots abandon their homes, desperate for a safe haven beyond the reach of oppression and destruction.—
Nazanin Boniadi,
Time,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
This temperature range is considered the danger zone.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
-
The ones at the top of your danger list need immediate attention.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
As far as disputes are concerned, the technology that has increasingly been used to intercede is blockchain.—
Saro McKenna,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
As far as improving from the status quo is concerned, this is the best provision in the bill.—
The Editors,
National Review,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The class encompasses information about exercises to prepare the mother for birth, relaxation and coping techniques, pain control options, labor positioning, induction and C-section basics, recovery and welcoming baby.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
-
The effects can be diminished by drinking eight to 10 glasses of water per day, taking pain medications, blood transfusions, folic acid or a combination of other medications.—
Jane Tyska,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Four months ago, his nomination for health secretary was in serious jeopardy.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
14 June 2025
-
In addition to people residing in the country illegally, immigrants with valid documentation—including green cards and visas—have been detained and face legal jeopardy.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distress. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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