distressful

adjective

di-ˈstres-fəl How to pronounce distressful (audio)
Definition of distressfulnext
1
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings the distressful period during which we waited to learn who had made the cut

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress the distressful living conditions in the refugee camp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distressful Carrying debt can be incredibly distressful, especially with sky-high prices for food, gas and housing. — Mallika Mitra, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026 And yet behind the distressful scene, a young man continues to butcher an animal. — Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024 Despite the distressful news of Houston’s death that day, the event went forward to create a space for guests to mourn. — Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distressful
  1. uneasy
  2. tragic
  3. disturbing
  4. unfortunate
  5. tense
  6. anxious
  7. unsettling
  8. nervous
Adjective
  • Many of the women interviewed still feel uneasy about the experience.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There was some uneasy laughter, and then, what everyone else was too afraid to say came from the only person who could.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • Her tragic death caused an outcry among local residents and inspired many improvements to the neighborhood.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Recounting the disappearance of his sister Jade 20 years earlier, this text threatens to expose the lies, secrets and rifts within a group of friends bound forever by tragic events.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tragic
Adjective
  • Brian had written down the recipe, and, in his back shed, Michael, with the eventual assistance of Kasey, sets about following it into strange and disturbing territory.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Artificial’s timeliness in that regard is striking, even disturbing.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • These unfortunate souls were supposed to stay in their birthplace, hoping church charity would sustain them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Artistic but flighty, Deborah ends up at her parents’ alma mater when an unfortunate incident gets her NYU Tisch School of the Arts acceptance rescinded.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Neither starter excelled on a tense, uncommonly hot October night in downtown San Diego.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The conversation seems to turn tense when Hanks speaks face-to-face with André and security personnel block the view.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tense
Adjective
  • As in the thriller, anxious local leaders debated whether publicizing the peril would scare off tourists.
    — Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Because of these risks, many conservation groups and lawmakers are anxious to see permanent protections.
    — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • In lieu of an interview, Gibney created an unsettling digital avatar of Musk that says things the real Musk actually uttered.
    — Sheelah Kolhatkar, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Its aggressively artificial imagery evokes the kind of AI-slop, dreamcore videos that tend to populate social media these days, thrusting the audience into increasingly unsettling spaces that seem generated from a stranger’s hazy childhood.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Everyone was in a good mood, if a little nervous about what was going to be discussed.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a Cuban national with lawful permanent residence in the United States, was also acting nervous, the agent said.
    — David Goodhue October 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of nervous

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Cite this Entry

“Distressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressful. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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