Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of distressful 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 Justice Harry Blackmun, who wrote for the Roe-affirming majority in 1973, included a brief list of the potential detriments of forcing women to carry pregnancies to term: Maternity, or additional offspring, may force upon the woman a distressful life and future. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, The New Yorker, 6 July 2022 The definition of trauma is anything distressful. Julia M. Chan, CNN, 15 Mar. 2022 But the results, Mr. Chancellor observes, were not as distressful for the rich as a medieval canonist might have hoped. Adam Rowe, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distressful
Adjective
  • Outlook: Stability or Strain? Oil markets in 2024 were defined by an uneasy equilibrium.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Given that uneasy reminder, the small victory ultimately won by King and his followers is even more extraordinary and potent.
    Sophie van Bastelaer, EW.com, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • As images continue to emerge, USA TODAY is asking anyone willing to share photos or video of the tragic aftermath to submit them here.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 8 July 2025
  • What remains, then, is a growing list of tragic lessons.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
  • Many of these videos follow a disturbing but familiar pattern—the extraction and erasure of Black women’s genius, creativity, and contributions.
    Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • And in the process of owning your role in the unfortunate circumstances, remember, never blame your superior or the board in a public forum.
    Carol Geffner, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • While Malle is clearly qualified to oversee editorial content, the timing is unfortunate for her chances.
    Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The unsettling noise was followed by a tense hour in the cabin, with many passengers crying, praying or showing signs of distress.
    Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025
  • Eyewitness accounts reported that the sweltering temperatures, along with swarms of flies from a nearby stable, contributed to a tense atmosphere and slowed down debate.
    Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The pit and toy poodle mix, adopted from a rescue ranch called The Barking Lot outside San Diego, found the sudden arrival of towering boxes and disappearing furniture deeply unsettling.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
  • Guan Un imagines something more unsettling: Sisyphus needing tech support with his stone.
    John Wiswell, People.com, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • But perhaps the most persuasive testimony came from Mrs. Hall herself, who embodied the defense’s portrait of a loyal, unsuspecting wife, home alone and anxious over her husband’s mysterious disappearance.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
  • The king, perhaps, was anxious to maintain his control over the nuts as a diplomatic resource—a means of impressing important dignitaries.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Watching his son evolve from a 4-star recruit out of Columbus High School in Miami to an eventual first-round pick out of Michigan State, Richardson doesn’t get too nervous or overly excited when Jase is on the court.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
  • But with Wirtz, there was suddenly an effort not to do that; the media got nervous about calling it a record.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Distressful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressful. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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