1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
distressing signs that another war might be imminent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the distressing death of our favorite actor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
don't let all the bad news distress you
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distressing
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026
This sideboard looks like an heirloom piece with its visible woodgrain, antique hardware, and subtle distressing.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Similarly, tax algorithmic amplification of distressing content and hyper-personalized targeting of minors so kids’ vulnerabilities and fears aren’t unnecessarily fueled for profit.
—Larz May, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Somewhat distressing at the national level were the 24 states that experienced job market dips over the past year.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
While some progress has been made on the Northwest Side, including the removal of the Legion Park encampment, the problem is still visible and distressing in other parks.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The armed men also burned the local police station and a police vehicle and stole livestock, adding to the already distressing outlook of widespread hunger remaining in Haiti through the end of June.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Tired of distressing headlines?
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
How to protect yourself from a scam Falling victim to a scam is distressing, especially because your personal information can be used to steal your identity, drain your bank account and, ultimately, compromise your financial health.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
Most of the film’s other resemblances, of which there are many, prove less distressing.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026
This sideboard looks like an heirloom piece with its visible woodgrain, antique hardware, and subtle distressing.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Similarly, tax algorithmic amplification of distressing content and hyper-personalized targeting of minors so kids’ vulnerabilities and fears aren’t unnecessarily fueled for profit.
—Larz May, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Somewhat distressing at the national level were the 24 states that experienced job market dips over the past year.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
While some progress has been made on the Northwest Side, including the removal of the Legion Park encampment, the problem is still visible and distressing in other parks.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The armed men also burned the local police station and a police vehicle and stole livestock, adding to the already distressing outlook of widespread hunger remaining in Haiti through the end of June.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Tired of distressing headlines?
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
How to protect yourself from a scam Falling victim to a scam is distressing, especially because your personal information can be used to steal your identity, drain your bank account and, ultimately, compromise your financial health.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 10 Apr. 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
Adjective
-
Angels fans who had regained some faith in Yusei Kikuchi after last weekend’s encouraging start could only watch with frustration as all of that was wiped away in one disturbing inning.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Most disturbing about the Game 3 blowout was not the who, but the how.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Then something tragic takes place.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In 1999, 81 years after the tragic sinking, the crew members of the Tampa were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even after filling several roster holes in the NFL Draft, the Dolphins exited the weekend with a glaring need at safety and an uneasy situation on the edge, at wide receiver and at tight end.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Forced into an uneasy alliance with a sharp-witted poacher living on the margins of society (Kellyman), the two women fight back, turning their powerlessness into strength through violence, wit, and defiance.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Midway through my massage, the boat unmoored itself and set sail—setting off an initially alarming vibrating bed and whirring engine noise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, things are unsettling here.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
-
But the intention is to create a new generation of horror films that draw from the unsettling power, psychological intensity, and cinematic ambition that made J-horror a defining force in global genre filmmaking.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even before the president set off this unfortunate round of gerrymandering, Democratic states such as New York and Illinois were already heavily gerrymandered.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
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He’s beaten by thugs with a crowbar for an unfortunate outburst, exploited by neighbors in the council estate and arrested, all because people don’t understand Tourette syndrome.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The play is about Sarah, an anxious young woman living a double life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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That’s the blunt reality facing Senate Majority Leader John Thune as Republicans grow increasingly anxious about the end-game for one of the most consequential — and politically combustible — confirmation fights in recent memory.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The curators supply a historical backdrop, therefore, but discreetly, and without distracting us from Wright’s poetic originality.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Living Room also extends outdoors to the rooftop Terrazzo Bar with views that are almost too distracting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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