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distressing

  • present participle
    of distress.
    distress
    noun
    great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
  • a word derived from distress.
    distress
    noun
    great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time," the force said in a statement.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

Rumination refers to repeatedly dwelling on distressing thoughts, worries, or negative experiences.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026

Clancy's trial, which featured more than 80 witnesses and days of distressing testimony, sparked debate in the United States over maternal mental health.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

The company responded with a statement calling her suit “especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Tendai pulled Rita to her feet before she could dwell on that distressing topic.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer