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

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

When your business is in distress and unable to meet its financial obligations, lenders are often willing to work with you to modify loan terms rather than forcing you into bankruptcy or foreclosure. —

Stephen Nalley, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 However, the country generally provides temporary shelter to refugees in distress. —

Binsar Bakkara and Edna Tarigan, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024 From the high rack, Moyer selects various sounds — a crippled jaybird, a fox in distress — from the remote control slung around his neck. —

Britta Lokting, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2024 When neighbors show up with a horse in distress, things stark to take a weird turn. —

Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for in distress