immense distress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "immense distress" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a significant level of emotional or mental suffering experienced by someone. Example: "After hearing the news of the tragedy, she was in immense distress, unable to focus on anything else."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Advances did not happen at once, to Fidyka's immense distress.

The New Yorker

Understandably, they caused immense distress and anxiety to Mr Galloway, his family, his constituents and supporters.

The Guardian

Intrusions are sudden brief sensory memories of the traumatic event, that cause immense distress and impairment in every day functioning.

European Neuropsychopharmacology

It speaks, for example, of the "immense distress" suffered by Israelis facing continual rocket fire from Gaza.

The Guardian - Opinion

To use my mother's final illness as a means to persuade me to buy things is inappropriate and caused me immense distress.

The Guardian - Tech

As well as the immense distress caused to the millions of people with mental ill-health and their families, mental disorders cost the economy more than £100bn a year, according to calculations by the Mental Health Foundation.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Madness is a label that other people put on to someone who is suffering immense mental distress, someone who just isn't able to cope.

The Guardian

These prosecutions cause immense mental distress, and disruption to education.

The Guardian

A spokesperson for Backlash added: "These prosecutions cause immense mental distress, and disruption to education.

Independent

Harriet Wran has been subjected to a "sustained and unpleasant campaign" by the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph causing her "immense psychological distress" and humiliation, Justice Ian Harrison said in handing down her sentence.

The Guardian

The practice, they said, was causing the prisoner immense mental distress, and was a violation of her human rights.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific nuance you want to convey. While "immense distress" indicates a high degree of suffering, alternatives like "profound sorrow" or "acute misery" might be more fitting depending on the context.

Common error

While "immense" emphasizes the severity of the distress, avoid piling on additional intensifiers like "very immense" or "absolutely immense." This can make your writing sound hyperbolic and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immense distress" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "immense" modifies the noun "distress." According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "immense distress" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a state of significant emotional suffering. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for news reporting, academic discussions, and everyday conversations. While alternatives like "extreme anguish" or "profound sorrow" exist, "immense distress" effectively conveys a high degree of anguish in a clear and impactful manner. When using "immense distress", avoid redundant intensifiers to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extreme anguish

Emphasizes the intensity and severity of the suffering.

profound sorrow

Focuses on the deep sadness and grief experienced.

deep suffering

Highlights the intensity and prolonged nature of the distress.

great despair

Indicates a loss of hope and overwhelming sadness.

acute misery

Suggests a sharp and intense feeling of unhappiness.

severe affliction

Emphasizes the cause of the distress as something burdensome and painful.

overwhelming grief

Focuses on the feeling of loss and sorrow being too much to bear.

intense agony

Highlights the extreme physical or mental pain.

palpable anguish

Implies the distress is so strong it is almost tangible or noticeable to others.

unbearable pain

Stresses the inability to cope with the level of suffering.

FAQs

What does "immense distress" mean?

The phrase "immense distress" refers to a state of extreme emotional or mental suffering. It signifies a high degree of anguish, pain, or sorrow.

How can I use "immense distress" in a sentence?

You can use "immense distress" to describe someone's emotional state, as in "The news of the accident caused her "immense distress"" or "He was in "immense distress" after losing his job".

What are some synonyms for "immense distress"?

Alternatives to "immense distress" include "extreme anguish", "profound sorrow", or "deep suffering", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is "immense distress" formal or informal?

"Immense distress" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Its appropriateness depends more on the context than the setting.