distress
noun
great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
has been distressing
-
present perfect progressiveof distress (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Torres said the situation has been distressing for the entire family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2025
"It has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigour," she said.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024
For West’s family members, who have worked to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest through their Play for Jake Foundation, seeing his story co-opted in the service of spreading anti-vaccine misinformation has been distressing.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 17, 2021
But while she jokes about it, she added, the loss has been distressing: “For a few months, every day almost, I would cry at the end of the day.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 2, 2021
It's not a case for Dr. Fergusson, yet it has been distressing me for some months.
From The Third Class at Miss Kaye's A School Story by Angela Brazil
