with distress

USAGE SUMMARY

'with distress' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a feeling of sadness. For example: The child watched her mother walk away with distress.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neuroticism is associated with distress and dissatisfaction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They reacted with distress and incredulity.

The Guardian

"This was Najaf's most advanced hospital," he said with distress.

The New York Times

At other sites people reacted with distress or fear.

The New York Times - Arts

An atmosphere sour with distress, bewilderment and suspicion.

Independent

He took a sleeping pill and went to bed, and awoke with distress.

The New York Times

But I remembered with distress the times she had accused me of whining.

The New York Times

About one in every five was associated with distress, and the remainder felt neutral.

The New York Times - Health

Frequently I deal with distress or aggression and the fault almost always lies elsewhere.

The Guardian

"I would never, God, I would never... especially what I do... " She becomes incoherent with distress.

The Guardian

Yet the economy remains pitifully weak, with distress abundant from strapped households to anxious corporate boardrooms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with distress" to convey a sense of emotional suffering or unease in response to a specific situation or event. It adds depth to descriptions of emotional reactions.

Common error

Avoid using "with distress" in situations that are only mildly upsetting. Opt for less intense phrasing like "with concern" or "with unease" for minor inconveniences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with distress" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing the manner in which an action is performed or a state is experienced. It adds emotional context to the verb it modifies, indicating the presence of suffering or unease.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "with distress" is a prepositional phrase used to describe actions or states experienced with emotional suffering. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. While "with distress" accurately conveys emotional unease, related phrases such as "in anguish" or "with sadness" may be more suitable depending on context. It's best to avoid overuse of "with distress" in overly dramatic situations and consider a more appropriate phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with sadness

Highlights the feeling of sadness. It provides a simpler and more direct alternative to "with distress".

with suffering

Emphasizes the state of enduring pain or hardship. It offers a more general term compared to "with distress".

in anguish

Focuses on the intense suffering experienced. It replaces "with distress" to emphasize the severity of emotional pain.

with grief

Specifies the emotion as grief or bereavement. It replaces "with distress" to convey a feeling of loss and mourning.

with anguish

Emphasizes the intensity of the suffering. It replaces "with distress" to highlight the severe emotional pain.

in despair

Highlights the loss of hope. It changes "with distress" to underscore a feeling of hopelessness.

in sorrow

Emphasizes deep sadness. It replaces "with distress" to specify the emotion as grief or mourning.

with despair

Underscores a complete loss of hope. It changes "with distress" to emphasize hopelessness.

in agony

Signifies extreme physical or mental suffering. It alters "with distress" to denote intense pain.

in torment

Indicates severe suffering and mental anguish. It substitutes "with distress" to convey a state of being deeply troubled.

FAQs

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

You can use "with distress" to describe someone's reaction to a situation causing them emotional pain or suffering. For example, "She watched the news /s/with+distress/".

What are some alternatives to saying "with distress"?

You can use alternatives like "in anguish", "in sorrow", or "with sadness" depending on the specific emotion you want to emphasize.

What's the difference between "with distress" and "with anxiety"?

"With distress" generally implies a broader sense of suffering or emotional pain, while "with anxiety" specifically suggests worry, nervousness, or unease about a future event or situation.

Is it more appropriate to say "with distress" or "in distress"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "With distress" describes the manner in which someone does something, while "in distress" describes the state or condition someone is in.