distress 1 of 2

distress

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun distress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distress are agony, misery, and suffering. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When might agony be a better fit than distress?

In some situations, the words agony and distress are roughly equivalent. However, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When is misery a more appropriate choice than distress?

While in some cases nearly identical to distress, misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

When could suffering be used to replace distress?

The synonyms suffering and distress are sometimes interchangeable, but suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of distress
Noun
Collins’ partner had called the cops for help with her autistic 15-year-old son, who was in extreme distress. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025 That so many hostages are still in Gaza remains a source of deep distress. Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
Some underlying conditions are not dangerous, but their symptoms are distressing. Sarah Hudgens, Health, 20 Dec. 2024 Muir then aged and distressed his fit to reflect centuries of decay. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for distress 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distress
Noun
  • Or their parents’ agony, night and day, for the past five years.
    David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Cumberbatch, in a few moments, expresses the depth of this father’s agony, the terrifying chasm of it.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Security services will also be involved in the investigation, as there is a risk that Momika’s murder could be linked to foreign powers, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press briefing Thursday, according to public broadcaster SVT.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Underfunded communities are struggling to recover, jobs are disappearing, and insurance premiums are skyrocketing as the risk of displacement grows.
    Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This should alarm anyone with a vested interest in the separation of church and state.
    Trans Formations Project, Them, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Immigration advocates were particularly alarmed by the focus on those already in the country who received the status due to unstable conditions in their home country.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • However, this child was left vulnerable...and [their parents] now faced the anguish of watching their child fight for their life on a ventilator.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The football world felt the collective anguish of a fan base during Buffalo’s 13-seconds loss to Kansas City.
    Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • No player made more than the Netherlands international’s 27 defensive actions, but this was by design rather than luck with his manager fully aware of the danger Bournemouth pose down the flanks.
    Mark Carey, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
  • For residents, parents and students, the danger is clear and present every day.
    Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Right, but Congress passed and the Biden administration signed an order declassifying the information concerning the lab leak theory and the issues with respect to COVID origins.
    CBS News, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025
  • But so far, no action has been taken, and Krishnamoorthi is concerned.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The therapy, while generally safe, can cause side effects such as ear pain, breathing difficulties, and in rare cases, lung damage or seizures.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Vertex’s new pill is a new alternative for pain relief that comes without the risk of addiction.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Legal experts, government officials and others across the country were warning Tuesday that the memo could put in jeopardy everything from early childhood education and food assistance programs to efforts to clear land mines in war zones.
    Nicholas Kusnetz, WIRED, 29 Jan. 2025
  • The truce between Israel and Hamas was put in jeopardy Saturday after Israel blocked Palestinian civilians from moving back to their homes in northern Gaza.
    Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near distress

Cite this Entry

“Distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distress. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on distress

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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