in distress

idiom

: very upset

He was clearly in distress upon hearing the news.

: 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.

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 The Lawrence Police Department reported officers responded to a retail business on Monday after a passerby saw the children in distress inside an SUV and called 911. —

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024 The men were discovered in distress around the pier near The Waterfront Tavern by members of the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol. —

David Matthews, New York Daily News, 17 June 2024 The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. —

Chloe Castleberry, Essence, 25 May 2024 This is about acceptance, this is about being a family, this is about loving someone in distress more than hating them for petty reasons. —

Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for in distress

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in distress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.