distress
noun
great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
was distressing
-
past progressiveof distress.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The 53-year-old said the pain "etched" on older people's faces was distressing to watch as was the lack of dignity, with some men and women requiring toileting and feeding support.
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2026
“He was out on his boat, floating around the world. That was distressing to me.”
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2024
That was distressing to Fatima Monteiro, a community health agent who suffers from high blood pressure, which puts her at greater risk of blackouts and fainting during heat waves.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2024
And while the straw so deeply lodged into the creature’s nostril was distressing, she notes that plastics permeating their way into marine life was nothing new.
From National Geographic ● Dec. 12, 2023
Yet if it was distressing to him—he thought—how much more painful it would be to you!
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
