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
Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
This distress is not far above the nation’s 24% share of renters facing a 50%-plus burden.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Aug. 2025
Cricket sweaters, patchwork blanket, and distressed baseball caps.
—James Powel, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distress
Noun
During the Great Depression, advertisers were able to use the distress of joblessness to sell hygiene products.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
This distress is not far above the nation’s 24% share of renters facing a 50%-plus burden.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
Like Earle, Jenner styled her ultra-low-rise True Religion jeans with a simple white tank top, allowing her red-stitched, lightly distressed denim to take center stage.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Aug. 2025
Cricket sweaters, patchwork blanket, and distressed baseball caps.
—James Powel, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distress
Noun
-
Americans can channel the collective agony and frustration to encourage meaningful change, cooling down the division, making gun laws safer, opening genuinely constructive discussions, informing the public about the risks and calling on lawmakers to take real action.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Other paintings by those presently or formerly incarcerated reflect on the agony of prison itself.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Many have significant reservations about the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccine, despite assurances from most experts that the benefits outweigh the risks.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
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But the ground level faces severe flooding risks through a combination of rainstorms and earthquakes that bring soil water to the surface, per a study conducted in 2016 by the San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Alyssa’s trip didn’t alarm her mother.—
Sarah Dahlberg,
NBC news,
17 Sep. 2025
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The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue was alarmed by the Chiefs’ pass rush.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In video shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum this week, Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, stands outside Netanyahu’s house with other hostage families, yelling in anguish.—
Abeer Salman,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Moments of stomach wrenching anguish dot Minnesota United’s history, and Michael Boxall has lived through every major sorrow over the past decade.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Authorities said there was no further danger to the public.—
Jack Moore,
ABC News,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The scene is still an active investigation, but there is no further danger to the public.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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It is concerned solely with the here-and-now, preserving the peace for just one more day, and waiting for the CCP to collapse like the imperial dynasties that ruled China before.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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The final campaign finance report for the 2024 general election and the annual report concerning remaining campaign funds were filed on April 30 of this year, according to records in the Saline County clerk's office.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When Meiyun is recalling her pain and telling her past, her body language always goes first.—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
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The Smashing Machine traces three years in Kerr’s career, when his talents had begun to wane but his instincts still pushed him to focus on numbing the pain of his wounds.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But Rocco trash talk reaching jeopardy is peak!—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The Arizona Cardinals are surprisingly 2-0, while Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals will miss significant time after injuring his toe this week, putting the Bengals’ perfect start in jeopardy.—
Mark LaSota,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distress. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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