distress
Translation
distress, anguish, suffering, danger
Examples
The charity helps people in distress.
The charity helps people in distress.
The ship sent out a distress signal.
The ship sent out a distress signal.
Grammar Patterns
in distress The charity helps people in distress.
Similar Words
Synonyms: anguish, agony, suffering, peril; Antonyms: comfort, joy, safety
Etymology
From Old French 'destrece', from Latin 'distringere' (to pull apart, stretch tight).
Memory Tips
Think of it as an extreme form of 'stress'. The prefix 'dis-' intensifies the feeling of being stretched or pulled apart.