Synonyms for distressing
dis·tress·ing

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. distressing

   Synonyms:
   depressing, disappointing, hateful, horrible, melancholy, miserable, mournful, painful, saddening, woful, wretched

   Antonyms:
   acceptable, agreeable, congenial, delicious, delightful, grateful, gratifying, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, refreshing, satisfying, welcome

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. distressing, distressful, disturbing, perturbing, troubling, worrisome, worryingadjective

   causing distress or worry or anxiety

   "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"

   Synonyms:
   perturbing, unreassuring, worrying, deplorable, sorry, sad, disturbing, lamentable, distressful, worrisome, troubling, pitiful

   Antonyms:
   light, good

2. deplorable, distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorryadjective

   bad; unfortunate

   "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs"

   Synonyms:
   regretful, deplorable, hapless, no-account, reprehensible, woeful, dismal, troubling, execrable, dingy, disconsolate, perturbing, no-count, good-for-nothing, miserable, worrying, criminal, no-good, vicious, disturbing, dark, grim, sad, piteous, condemnable, lamentable, worrisome, misfortunate, pitiable, bad, poor, pathetic, wretched, sorry, pitiful, gloomy, drab, distressful, dreary, drear, good-for-naught, blue, meritless

   Antonyms:
   light, good

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. happy

   sometimes people are so happy that others find it distressing

   jenna smiled brightly at her mother, who just looked distressed

   Submitted by anonymous on December 1, 2020  

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. distressingadjective

   Synonyms:
   grievous, distressful, painful, afflictive

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:5.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "distressing":

   painful, worrying, disturbing, harrowing, agonizing, sad, alarming, agonising, troubling, regrettable, stressful, depressing, worrisome, disheartening, deplorable, disquieting, disappointing, shocking

How to pronounce distressing?

How to say distressing in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use distressing in a sentence?

1. Ben Edelman:

   It certainly came as a surprise to see these emails published, from my perspective, the most distressing aspect of the media coverage, and of having the emails circulated, was how few people seemed to understand, or even want to understand, my true motivations.

2. Mahatma Gandhi:

   Indolence is a delightful but distressing state we must be doing something to be happy.

3. Rhea Boyd:

   Parents who have not already, should proactively engage their kids around these distressing events, ask them what they know and what they've seen. Ask them how they are feeling. Validate their feelings and let them know what you are doing to keep them safe -- be it in your home or your community.

4. George Walden:

   A country losing touch with its own history is like an old man losing his glasses, a distressing sight, at once vulnerable, unsure, and easily disoriented.

5. Hillary Clinton:

   It’s a very personally painful accusation, having it continued to be bandied around is deeply distressing to me. I would imagine that I’ve thought more about what happened than all of you put together.