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
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
In February 2023, Smith was the first to file a lawsuit, suing the boys and their parents for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Ukrainian drone operators were reportedly distressed at having to kill horses, but have apparently adopted new tactics.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distress
Noun
An OpenAI spokesperson has said the company is improving how its systems respond to signs of distress and now directs users toward real-world support.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
In February 2023, Smith was the first to file a lawsuit, suing the boys and their parents for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Mainstream medical groups support puberty blockers and hormonal treatment for children who are consistent in their transgender identity and distressed by the prospect of unmedicated puberty.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Ukrainian drone operators were reportedly distressed at having to kill horses, but have apparently adopted new tactics.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distress
Noun
-
Laocoön and His Sons, an exquisite marble sculpture of the legendary Trojan priest writhing in agony as he’s attacked by sea-serpents, was first unearthed in the early sixteenth-century, the only missing piece his right arm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Steven McDonald, a fallen hero of the department who channeled the agony of three devastating gunshot wounds into an enduring message of peace and forgiveness.—
Barry Williams,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The risk remained even after researchers accounted for how closely people followed a healthy Mediterranean-style diet.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Of course, any intense media scrutiny risks being distracting, especially when it is not directly related to the work of the foundation.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But that's not really what alarms me, someone making money off of military advancements.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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Officials across the country received the invitation, which has alarmed some of its recipients, according to numerous media outlets.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Even now, more than 40 years later, the lasting image of her career is of Decker laying on the track in anguish and tears after colliding with Zola Budd in the 1984 Olympic 3,000-meter run.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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Néfissa cries loudly and with anguish about her son, but refuses to acknowledge his truth.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Whether your location will experience a partial solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse, the dangers are the same.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of this or any avalanche center.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But some consumers and lawmakers are concerned the technology allows stores to suddenly hike prices on certain items during high-demand windows.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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When Reeves’ political future was in doubt last summer, gilt yields spiked as much as 22 basis points in a single day, with market watchers saying at the time that investors were concerned her departure would lead to the government spending and borrowing more.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Personality traits such as mental toughness, discipline, high pain tolerance and persistence may also lead to worsened eating disorder risk and behaviors in athletes.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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And we are bound by ties of community, having attended the same summer camps, showed up at each other’s family celebrations, and felt each other’s pain.—
Lindsay Baach Friedmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But when a violent new cellmate Dee (Blyth) arrives, the chance for Taylor to get his life back is put in jeopardy.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
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Is a bit of jeopardy exactly the kind of galvanising motivation Arsenal need to click back into gear?—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distress. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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