distressful

[dih-stres-fuhl]

adjective

1. causing or involving distress.

   the distressful circumstances of poverty and sickness.

2. full of, feeling, or indicating distress.

   a distressful cry.

Other Word Forms

• distressfully adverb
• distressfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of distressful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; distress + -ful