collocations.org

Collocations for distress - noun

ADJECTIVE

acute, considerable, deep, extreme, great, immense (BrE), severe, significant
genuine, real
obvious
unnecessary (esp. BrE)
general
emotional, mental, moral, personal, physical, psychological
the physical distress of hunger
the personal distress associated with unemployment
economic, financial, social
The causes of social distress include inadequate housing.
marital, relationship (both AmE)
an unhappy young couple in acute relationship distress

Back to top ▲


VERB + distress

cause (sb)
experience, feel, suffer
the distress that she felt when her parents argued
The animals suffer great pain and distress when hunted.
show (signs of)
She seemed calm and showed no signs of distress.
hide
He tried to hide his distress, but the tremor in his voice was unmistakable.
express
Hall expressed his distress at the court's failure to uphold his rights.
avoid
alleviate, ease, reduce, relieve
see, sense
She saw the distress in Christy's eyes.
Sensing her distress, Luke walked over and patted her shoulder.

Back to top ▲


distress + NOUN

call, signal
The sinking ship sent out a distress call.

Back to top ▲


PREPOSITION

in distress
The child was clearly in distress.
a ship in distress
to sb's distress
He dropped out of college, to his family's distress.
distress at
her obvious distress at hearing such bad news
distress over
The president issued a statement expressing her distress over the affair.

Back to top ▲


PHRASES

a damsel in distress
medieval ballads about a knight saving a damsel in distress
a source of distress
Getting old is a source of distress to men as well as women.

Back to top ▲

Report an error or submit a comment/suggestion on distress