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 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 And yet behind the distressful scene, a young man continues to butcher an animal. — Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distressful
  1. uneasy
  2. tragic
  3. disturbing
  4. unfortunate
  5. tense
  6. anxious
  7. unsettling
  8. nervous
Adjective
  • The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 1 July 2026
  • But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • Anything tragic that happened to minorities was inevitable and necessary.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Titled ‘Forever 20′, it has been placed on 97 Avenue, close to the stadium’s Main Stand, on the eve of the first anniversary of their tragic passing in a car crash in Spain last July.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of tragic
Adjective
  • There were many disturbing parts of Kerstin’s story left unpursued.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • For many women, painful periods are treated as an unfortunate but normal part of life.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Instead, the meddling radiated corruption over due process of an unfortunate but longstanding rule that has remedies seldom invoked in the middle of the World Cup.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • Both of these factors lead to tense – but also quite funny –moments.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
Definition of tense
Adjective
  • Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
  • America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.
    — The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • After all, Against Nature is all about the unsettling atmosphere and the senses.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 July 2026
  • Seeking a fresh start, Ellie moves into a house on Delaney Row hoping to leave her troubled past behind, only to discover that her new home is steeped in dark secrets and unsettling mysteries.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • At Clis boutique in Melrose Park, owner Jeimmy Espina is nervous and overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured in her home country.
    — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Apple head honchos are nervous about cybersecurity – and one reason might be a recent supply chain attack on supplier Tata, the largest Indian company of its kind to ink a partnership with the front-running American smartphone company.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 30 June 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on distressful

Nglish: Translation of distressful for Spanish Speakers

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