She uses them, one by one, to ease her distress.

I did, finally, if only to ease his distress.

Without knowing why, he wanted to say something, to ease the other man's unvoiced distress.

Still somehow my boy's promise seemed to ease the lady's distress.

Maybe not; but it was good enough to ease Angus' distress a little.

"We appeal to the generosity of our readers to help ease their distress."

She tried to speak lightly, to ease his distress.

She wasn't sure what she could say to ease his distress but he shouldn't be alone.

Several excuses she might offer rose to mind, but none seemed adequate to ease his distress.

"That's all right," she said, trying to ease his distress.