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
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Other experts reckoned the intense emotional and psychological distress unleashed by the pandemic had spilled onto the roads.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Debra Shore, former regional administrator for EPA Region 5, has been distressed watching the agency undergo attacks from the Trump administration, including staffing changes, grant cancelations and deregulations.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distress
Noun
These actions are causing unnecessary distress and harm.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Other experts reckoned the intense emotional and psychological distress unleashed by the pandemic had spilled onto the roads.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
Verb
So, while the losses can be distressing, the overall upward trend over time tends to reward those who push through.
—Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Debra Shore, former regional administrator for EPA Region 5, has been distressed watching the agency undergo attacks from the Trump administration, including staffing changes, grant cancelations and deregulations.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distress
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Joseph writhes in the agony of his own newfound girl craziness (and cleavage obsession).—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
-
Williams was never offered any other clear pathway to finding relief—even as the agony from her fibroids was getting worse.—
Kayla Greaves,
SELF,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
And while the gas is well known for its short-term risks in occupational settings, less is known about the consequences of long-term exposure.—
Tammy Murga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 July 2025
-
The discovery comes as fears of a serial killer lurking in the community’s midst continue to loom over the area, with local authorities continuing to downplay the risk.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
The apostles are alarmed, but Jesus understands his destiny is coming.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
-
The entire affair—the opening, the closing, the paranoia, and then the alarming news of a shooting (which was unrelated and, thankfully, nonfatal)—could be easily put down to the vagaries of big-city life.—
Emma Sarappo,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
To date, Operation UNITED has resulted in 33 positive identifications of people whose disappearance had left family members in anguish.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
16 June 2025
-
Even so, the movie’s forceful visual shocks (executed mostly with practical effects) are easier to bear than its restlessly mounting anguish.—
Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
And with the dangers on the minds of some after a flash flood in June in nearby San Antonio killed 13 people, local media reiterated state warnings about the potential for flooding.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
-
In a case of life reflecting art, though, the tie-in video games spawned by the movie — which in some ways is about the danger of video games — were a smash.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
The suit alleges that several internal memos concerning drugs and other contraband have gone unheeded for years.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 July 2025
-
The warning was released on Monday at 4:41 p.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Monday at 4:47 p.m.—
Kansas City Star Bot
Updated July 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Our lives in Iran, our pain, are different from the ‘official’ version.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
7 July 2025
-
Six months ago, two weeks before my planned starting date, a mysterious pain in my side sent me to see Doc Morris for a checkup that led to a surprise double surgery to remove both a dodgy gallbladder and a carrot-sized tumor from my lower intestines, the first serious medical crisis of my life.—
James Dodson
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Though Matt Wallner singled to move Lewis to third, the Twins’ rally was in serious jeopardy after Ty France popped out.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Cutting the size of the division from 20 to 15 teams would increase the quality and jeopardy for every team.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distress. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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