1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
distressing signs that another war might be imminent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distressing
Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 24 June 2026
The Physical And Mental Toll Of Protecting Wildlife Ranger work is physically challenging, often emotionally distressing, but essential.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
As distressing as their circumstance is, Naim and Ryan are unmistakably positioned as heroic lovers, not victims-to-be.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
The omission is very distressing.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026
But collapsing into a debate about purity is distressing.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 June 2026
According to an article in Nature Reviews Psychology, seeing others in pain often recruits the same brain systems as feeling pain ourselves, and can be distressing, especially for highly empathetic people.
—Michele Promaulayko, Allure, 17 June 2026
The gray, white, and blue stripes, accented with an intermittent chevron pattern, add interest, while moderate distressing helps disguise everyday wear and tear.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
But someone without my background might have found the experience far more distressing.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 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
The central item in the second collection was the Puma x Nahmias Speedcat, a low-profile racing shoe updated with suede overlays, light distressing and co-branded detailing.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 24 June 2026
The Physical And Mental Toll Of Protecting Wildlife Ranger work is physically challenging, often emotionally distressing, but essential.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
As distressing as their circumstance is, Naim and Ryan are unmistakably positioned as heroic lovers, not victims-to-be.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
The omission is very distressing.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026
But collapsing into a debate about purity is distressing.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 June 2026
According to an article in Nature Reviews Psychology, seeing others in pain often recruits the same brain systems as feeling pain ourselves, and can be distressing, especially for highly empathetic people.
—Michele Promaulayko, Allure, 17 June 2026
The gray, white, and blue stripes, accented with an intermittent chevron pattern, add interest, while moderate distressing helps disguise everyday wear and tear.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
But someone without my background might have found the experience far more distressing.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 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
-
That normalization may be the most disturbing aspect of all.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Although the project is unlikely to affect Jackson’s popularity much, some of the revelations uncovered during the investigation are disturbing.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Alexander Davis, 34, of North Carolina, was a weapon systems officer for the 419th Flight Test Squadron, and had flown B-52 missions for years before the tragic crash that claimed his life.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
-
Her lawyer alleges that postpartum mental health issues caused the tragic result that night.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
As the nation gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, most Americans feel uneasy about their present, and pessimistic about their future, polls show.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
Sanders takes an uneasy step, into his wonderful, painful childhood.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
But the attack ads and political endorsements generally associated with running for other offices have started showing up in judicial races, alarming some judges and raising questions about whether candidates who engage in such activity have the right temperament for the job.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
-
The 2023 property tax valuation cycle — and to a lesser extent, the 2024 and 2025 cycles — have been the subject of widespread outrage in Jackson County, with skyrocketing property values alarming homeowners and business owners alike.—
Ilana Arougheti
June 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Even when those withdrawals are planned, seeing balances decrease can feel unsettling.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Could Kadri, given the unsettling aspects of a trade and the finger injury, find a bump in play next year?—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The visible gap for the door mechanism running across the rear fenders is unfortunate, especially since more basic minivans showcase clean surfaces there.—
Tim Stevens,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
-
Here's Sophie Cunningham dominating another pre-game entrance before an unfortunate loss to Angel Reese last night.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Though fans are anxious to see Andrade return to more events, her job in Rio is done.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Homeless, his body torn, Odysseus needs to get back to her and Telemachus, his anxious son, and to clean up the mess.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Verb
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However, there was a distracting graphical issue where characters and objects would get weird glowy or black artifacts around the edges in close-up shots during battles and cutscenes.—
Jay Peters,
The Verge,
23 June 2026
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People attending the trial would also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing, or otherwise disrupting proceedings.—
Matthew Davisson,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressing. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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