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
The Goshen Fire District and the Washington County Urban Search and Rescue Team were dispatched to the Twin Bridges Boat Ramp around 9 a.m. Thursday for a watercraft in distress, according to the Goshen Fire District.
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Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Like its historical predecessors, this mandala is a cosmic chart, but one of a cosmos in distress.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Upon seeing her partner in distress on the big screen, Bianca Belair immediately rushed backstage, choosing to forfeit her chance to become the first-ever Women's United States Champion in order to support Cargill.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 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.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in distress 
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Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Like its historical predecessors, this mandala is a cosmic chart, but one of a cosmos in distress.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Upon seeing her partner in distress on the big screen, Bianca Belair immediately rushed backstage, choosing to forfeit her chance to become the first-ever Women's United States Champion in order to support Cargill.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 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.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in distress
Dictionary Entries Near in distress
Cite this Entry
“In distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20distress. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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