Standard Lemma guide

distressful

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Causing or feeling distress, anxiety, or strain; distressing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

causing distress or worry or anxiety

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • distressing (or disturbing) news
  • lived in heroic if something distressful isolation
  • a disturbing amount of crime
  • a revelation that was most perturbing
  • a new and troubling thought
  • in a particularly worrisome predicament
  • a worrying situation
  • a worrying time

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: distressing, disturbing, perturbing, troubling, worrisome, worrying

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From distress + -ful.