distressing
dih-STREH-sihng
Distressing (adjective) means causing worry, sadness, or pain. Example: “It was distressing to watch the animals suffer in the heat.”
adjective
1
Causing worry, sadness, or pain.
"It was distressing to watch the animals suffer in the heat."
How to use distressing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUpsetting enough to cause real emotional pain.
Common pairings
deeply distressing
distressing news
find something distressing
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more distressing
- Superlative
- most distressing
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was _____ to watch the animals suffer in the heat.
Synonyms
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disturbing
worrying
deplorable
sad
worrisome
sorry
distressful
troubling
perturbing
lamentable
pitiful
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for distressing
Messing
Lessing
blessing
dressing
pressing
guessing
assessing
caressing
processing
expressing
addressing
depressing
See all rhymes for distressing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “distressing” mean?
The word “distressing” means causing worry, sadness, or pain. In plain terms, upsetting enough to cause real emotional pain.
How do you pronounce “distressing”?
“Distressing” is pronounced dih-STREH-sihng (/dɪˈstɹɛsɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “distressing” in a sentence?
Here is “distressing” used in a sentence: “It was distressing to watch the animals suffer in the heat.”
What part of speech is “distressing”?
“Distressing” is an adjective.
Is “distressing” a common word?
“Distressing” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
