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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the distressing habit of constantly fiddling with her hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Knee rips and distressing, as well as a drop-sleeve denim moto jacket added some New York attitude to the collection.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
Implementing either policy would harm patients and cause distressing drug shortages and access issues.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
TikTok said that teen accounts cannot access graphic or potentially distressing content, even when the videos are tied to major news events.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Regardless of a user’s age, the company says its chatbots will attempt to redirect the most distressing conversations to more capable AI models that can provide a better response.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Footage from the 1966 Italian documentary Africa Addio, of a herd of elephants being felled by both ground hunters and sharpshooters in helicopters, is distressing to watch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Loloi x Magnolia Home Sinclair Collection Area Rug Perfect for tying the entire room together, this area rug has antique motifs, subtle distressing details, and neutral shades of taupe that go with all kinds of hues.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Look for options with less hardware, no distressing, and a straightforward shape.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
This story contains audio clips that may be distressing.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Knee rips and distressing, as well as a drop-sleeve denim moto jacket added some New York attitude to the collection.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
Implementing either policy would harm patients and cause distressing drug shortages and access issues.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
TikTok said that teen accounts cannot access graphic or potentially distressing content, even when the videos are tied to major news events.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Regardless of a user’s age, the company says its chatbots will attempt to redirect the most distressing conversations to more capable AI models that can provide a better response.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Footage from the 1966 Italian documentary Africa Addio, of a herd of elephants being felled by both ground hunters and sharpshooters in helicopters, is distressing to watch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Loloi x Magnolia Home Sinclair Collection Area Rug Perfect for tying the entire room together, this area rug has antique motifs, subtle distressing details, and neutral shades of taupe that go with all kinds of hues.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Look for options with less hardware, no distressing, and a straightforward shape.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distressing
Adjective
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Her black-and-white paintings mixed cartoon characters with psychological complexities resulting in sometimes-disturbing interpretations of pop icons.—
Jane Wooldridge,
Miami Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
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Ask them to retell their experience watching it The best thing to do when a child sees something disturbing is to talk about it.—
Robyn Koslowitz,
Parents,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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As America continues to face tragic acts of school violence, parishioners and leaders alike see Castillo’s example as a source of strength.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
21 Sep. 2025
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When people are directed to fill their spiritual emptiness with rage, the social outcome is predictably tragic.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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All that should have spelled relief to H-1B workers and their corporate sponsors, but Xiao Wang, chief executive of the immigration services firm Boundless Immigration, said the lack of detail left many unanswered questions – and his clients uneasy.—
Dian Zhang,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
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If uneasy, history may provide equal insights with economics.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But also alarming is that government officials don’t seem to take seriously the need to justify the reasons for their use of force, which should only be wielded to protect the rights of Americans.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
22 Sep. 2025
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Bond yields leaking higher since the Fed cut rates a quarter-point on Wednesday is not atypical, and — so far — is not alarming equity markets, inflation watchdogs or fiscal hawks.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The experience has been unsettling.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
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But there’s something genuinely unsettling about watching Katherine get stalked by the bubbles from her bath or the room itself somehow teleport around the hotel; if nothing else, the suite is certainly one of the season’s more unusual villains.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Plus, Vince’s on-screen demise serves an unfortunate reminder of the realities of real-life firefighting.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
23 Sep. 2025
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The Ravens move on to Week 4 with an unfortunate stat, having scored 111 points across three games.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Usman is anxious about the fate of her surviving twin, who is 18 months old and in need of nutritional treatment.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
21 Sep. 2025
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The uncertainty has left some players on the Valkyries anxious going into this year’s expansion draft.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The subtle side snap buttons leading down to the slit provide detail without being distracting, and the pointelle knit offers enough stretch and texture to hug your curves in all the right places.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Sep. 2025
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From Noise To Intent In the quest for transactions and eyeballs, brands often inundate users with irrelevant and distracting messages that contribute to more noise than meaningful engagement.—
Rajiv Shesh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressing. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
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