adjective

distressing

dih-STREH-sihng

adjective

Causing worry, sadness, or pain.

"It was distressing to watch the animals suffer in the heat."

How to Use Distressing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUpsetting enough to cause real emotional pain.

Common pairings

deeply distressing distressing news find something distressing

more distressing comparative, most distressing superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

It was _____ to watch the animals suffer in the heat.

Messing Lessing blessing dressing pressing guessing assessing caressing processing expressing addressing depressing