as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
in great straits over the loss of her mother's cherished necklace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 straits
Ferry service in the winter, however, is dependent on ice coverage in the straits.
—
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Bjarne Caesar Skinnerup works as a maritime pilot in the straits of Denmark.
—NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
By effectively turning global communications cables into acoustic tripwires, militaries may soon be able to detect submarine movements across straits, chokepoints, and critical shipping routes in near real time.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
But part of the reason Florida finds itself in such dire straits is because Lagway has struggled, specifically to the tune of a five-to-six touchdown-to-interception ratio.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Both capitals sit along the Skagerrak and Kattegat straits, home to busy shipping lanes which connect the North Sea to the Baltic Sea.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
Enbridge refused to comply with the shutdown order and has taken the battle into the courts while continuing to send petroleum products through the pipeline across the straits.
—Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
After a period of wild and mostly erratic spending under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership left them in dire financial straits, the club are trying to rebuild cautiously under the Friedkin Group.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
Both countries' navies often use international straits off Japan's coastline for deployments to the wider Pacific.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Bjarne Caesar Skinnerup works as a maritime pilot in the straits of Denmark.
—NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
By effectively turning global communications cables into acoustic tripwires, militaries may soon be able to detect submarine movements across straits, chokepoints, and critical shipping routes in near real time.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
But part of the reason Florida finds itself in such dire straits is because Lagway has struggled, specifically to the tune of a five-to-six touchdown-to-interception ratio.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Both capitals sit along the Skagerrak and Kattegat straits, home to busy shipping lanes which connect the North Sea to the Baltic Sea.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
Enbridge refused to comply with the shutdown order and has taken the battle into the courts while continuing to send petroleum products through the pipeline across the straits.
—Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
After a period of wild and mostly erratic spending under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership left them in dire financial straits, the club are trying to rebuild cautiously under the Friedkin Group.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
Both countries' navies often use international straits off Japan's coastline for deployments to the wider Pacific.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straits
Noun
-
In times of distress and blood loss, the body responds by slowing circulation to our fingers and our toes, preserving blood flow to our heart, and our brain.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Severe or prolonged distress when separated from a parent.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Days full of anguish Thousands of miles away from the ICE detention facility in Michigan, Aurelquis Gómez visits her nephew Noah often.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Director Josh Boone will cut to a goofy montage right after a moment when a character is supposed to be mired in anguish.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The wife ushers the two frightened boys behind her, and watches on helplessly as her husband screams in agony and terror, thrashing his arms and legs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Please, more of Isabella lightly teasing Marty about his tendency to flagellate himself while considering the agony of the human condition.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ergofoot Orthopedic Slippers For those on my holiday list who have more sensitive and pain-prone feet, this orthopedic pair stands out from the crowd.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
According to my friends from STATS Perform, only six other relief pitchers in World Series history can share his pain.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straits. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share