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
This kind of fraud, resembling that experienced by Anthony, exploits a person’s emotions, inciting fear and anxiety, by impersonating a grandchild or other family member in distress.
—
Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2025
Infiniti’s portrayal of Willa has drawn praise for subverting the trope of the damsel in distress, instead becoming her very own heroine in the tale.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
The fall of 1983, a 22-year-old defensive lineman from Louisiana walked into the New York Giants locker in distress and desperate of a spark.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Pine, Colorado — As massive granite outcroppings dotted with evergreen trees jutted skyward from the landscape of Colorado’s Southern Rockies on a warm Tuesday morning, the serenity of bird calls and a babbling creek was shattered by a radio call from a park ranger in distress.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in distress
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Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2025
Infiniti’s portrayal of Willa has drawn praise for subverting the trope of the damsel in distress, instead becoming her very own heroine in the tale.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
The fall of 1983, a 22-year-old defensive lineman from Louisiana walked into the New York Giants locker in distress and desperate of a spark.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Pine, Colorado — As massive granite outcroppings dotted with evergreen trees jutted skyward from the landscape of Colorado’s Southern Rockies on a warm Tuesday morning, the serenity of bird calls and a babbling creek was shattered by a radio call from a park ranger in distress.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 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 18 Oct. 2025.
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