distress 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈstres How to pronounce distress (audio)
Definition of distressnext
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

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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

distress

2 of 2

verb

as in to alarm
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy don't let all the bad news distress you

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun distress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distress are agony, misery, and suffering. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When might agony be a better fit than distress?

In some situations, the words agony and distress are roughly equivalent. However, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When is misery a more appropriate choice than distress?

While in some cases nearly identical to distress, misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

When could suffering be used to replace distress?

The synonyms suffering and distress are sometimes interchangeable, but suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distress
Noun
Research on parasocial relationships has similarly found that the stronger the connection to a media figure, the greater the distress can be when that relationship ends. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Chasing might briefly relieve your distress if the person responds. — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
The judges looked on in horror, with Mel B visibly distressed over the fate of her keepsake. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 Denim shirts were slim and distressed with markings and patchwork. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for distress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distress
  1. agony
  2. risk
  3. alarm
  4. anguish
  5. danger
  6. concern
  7. pain
  8. jeopardy
Noun
  • Bugs Bunny jams himself against the edge and grits his teeth in agony.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The striking bronze sculpture depicts an outstretched arm reaching to the sky as hundreds of small human figures cling to it and each other with expressions of agony.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of agony
Noun
  • Handles up improves safety and hygiene during unloading, avoiding contact with eating surfaces and reducing injury risk.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Another is the contagion risk posed by having an unvaccinated child in a waiting room alongside infants and kids with immunodeficiencies.
    — Eric Boodman, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of risk
Verb
  • Such military cooperation has alarmed Israel, which is increasingly distrustful of Turkey’s intentions in the region.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • California Forever has increasingly pitched the Solano Shipyard as part of a broader effort to rebuild the US maritime industry, a priority among both Democrats and Republicans alarmed over its decline.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of alarm
Noun
  • For Alex’s family, those seven months have done little to dull the anguish over what happened to him — or their determination to see the two officers who fired the shots held responsible.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Some say there is a fine line between anguish or sadness — and laughter.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of anguish
Noun
  • The same goes for Brooks–who obviously was in no danger of being cut.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Read more on the rising dangers of living downstream from a glacier here.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of danger
Verb
  • Through an open records request, the Star-Telegram obtained copies of text messages and emails concerning discussions between the two cities about the data center development.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Akiyama wrote numerous books concerning both his spaceflight and his experiences as a farmer and being displaced from the Fukushima Prefecture.
    — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • For a dressier option, the Franco Sarto Loran Slides are heralded by a Travel+Leisure writer who recently wore them all over Europe with zero foot pain.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The hospital basically told me to get over it and sleep it off but the pain was traumatic physically and mentally.
    — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pain
Noun
  • Nate Thomas now is in serious jeopardy of not making the team along with fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton, although Shelton will have the benefit of the team rarely parting ways with rookies drafted in the top four rounds.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
  • If the purchase of the Pierre were to go through, Lutnick could get as much as $100 million for the penthouse, even as his neighbors were forced to sell and hundreds of hotel staffers’ jobs were put in jeopardy.
    — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of jeopardy

Browse Nearby Words

distraught
distress
distressed
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Cite this Entry

“Distress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distress. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on distress

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about distress

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