distressing 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety distressing signs that another war might be imminent

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2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress the distressing death of our favorite actor

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3
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings the distressing habit of constantly fiddling with her hair

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distressing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of distress
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy don't let all the bad news distress you

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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 distressing
Adjective
Nowhere is this more true than at the world’s most prestigious performing arts festival, where Fringe comics often draw on dark subjects and distressing personal experiences. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 12 Aug. 2026 There’s also a distressing shot of a sleeping bag next to a pair of handcuffs. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 While the overall picture held mostly steady from the 2024 maternity care desert report, the organization's leadership says the data remains distressing. — Kristin Wright, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 Getty Images The reactions following celebrity blogger Perez Hilton’s distressing livestream and subsequent hospitalization have been varied across the board, and Jared Padalecki is the latest in the crossfire. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Deputies were dispatched to the scene upon receiving numerous calls from concerned viewers who had witnessed the distressing livestream on social media, a MDCSO spokesperson told PEOPLE. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 His father, Richard, a plutocrat who offers him a job at his company, is equally distressing. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 There is much fun and frivolity at the Witch and Culture Festival, but the event also acknowledges some distressing real-life history that goes along with being (or being suspected of being) a witch in Connecticut. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 Few physical changes are as distressing as noticing your hairline receding, your part widening or a once-full head of hair becoming noticeably thinner. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Verb
Thieves have tried to break into Taylor Minatogawa’s business five times in the last two months, distressing him so much he’s spent at least a dozen nights inside his shop keeping guard. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026 Its mid-rise Harlow jeans are composed of a cotton and elastane blend, with a powder-blue hue and strategic hints of distressing down the leg. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distressing
  1. disturbing
  2. tragic
  3. uneasy
  4. alarming
  5. unsettling
  6. unfortunate
  7. anxious
  8. distracting
Adjective
  • But no one can ignore the reality that New York has experienced a disturbing rise in antisemitic attacks.
    — Simcha Itzkowitz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • For people who live just steps from the home where the gun violence erupted, the incident was both disturbing and unsettling.
    — Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • The tragic accident marks the third fatal youth e-scooter injury in Chicago this year.
    — Narmeen Khan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The first came through tragic necessity after the old wooden main stand had been destroyed and 56 lives lost in the 1985 fire.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tragic
Adjective
  • Some users appeared to grow uneasy, even as Polymarket let people bet on whether the fires would spread to nearby counties or when they might be contained.
    — Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The doll arrives at an uneasy moment for the brand it’s built on.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Verb
  • In Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County maintains infectious-disease surveillance and disease-reporting services for residents and visitors, which is exactly how local systems stay ready without alarming the public.
    — Luis E. Caso Vega, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
    — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of alarming
Adjective
  • For a series built around the unsettling idea of collective perfection, Pluribus works because each department thrived in the chaos of creation.
    — Deadline, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As Ludwig’s body begins to change in unsettling ways, the cure becomes a journey through fear, loss and transformation.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • But Michael Pentecost, a Royse City resident who was not at the swimming pool, called the situation unfortunate.
    — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This unfortunate incident significantly complicates FC Barcelona's squad planning.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • And the more anxious students become about their career prospects, the more attractive banks and banking clubs become.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • While Turkey and Pakistan, on the borders of the Middle East, have avoided significant direct attacks, both are anxious to calm conflicts that threaten their own security and economic health.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxious
Verb
  • Practicing meditation, visualization, or deep breathing may help in distracting from the discomfort of a full bladder for a short time.
    — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026
  • At least 10 million people use the Opal app, whose premium tier costs $100 annually, to lock themselves out of distracting apps, while others pay $59 for the Brick to do the same.
    — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of distracting

Browse Nearby Words

distressfully
distressing
distressingly
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Cite this Entry

“Distressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressing. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of distressing for Spanish Speakers

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