1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
distressing signs that another war might be imminent
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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
Sarah Dewberry, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Aniston gave the classic style a relaxed update while appearing in an Instagram clip with Courteney Cox, opting for loose cut-off jean shorts with subtle distressing that felt casual and easy to move around in.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
Loss of social connections effectively leads to a negative compounding effect for Americans who are already struggling financially, a particularly distressing trend for low-income households and young people.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Nahimas recently reimagined the shoe with suede overlays and light distressing; Super Yaya updated the silhouette with a polka dot canvas option and a patent option with an embossed polka dot design; and Guizio collaborated on an all-black iteration of the sneaker.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The shock and disbelief on their faces in the hospital scene that follows is acutely distressing.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Regardless of a woman’s willpower or lifestyle, hormonal transitions trigger rapid weight gain that is both distressing and medically concerning.
—Latisa S Carson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
However, this becomes problematic when the mind starts treating distressing thoughts as unresolved threats that require constant monitoring.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Her fiction has long been characterized by gruesome imagery and body horror, often sustained by characters whose psychological torment proves even more distressing than their physical conditions.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 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
This therapy targets the traumatic memory directly, so it can be stored differently in the brain to reduce or even eliminate distressing symptoms linked to the trauma, according to the American Psychological Association.
—Sarah Dewberry, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Aniston gave the classic style a relaxed update while appearing in an Instagram clip with Courteney Cox, opting for loose cut-off jean shorts with subtle distressing that felt casual and easy to move around in.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
Loss of social connections effectively leads to a negative compounding effect for Americans who are already struggling financially, a particularly distressing trend for low-income households and young people.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Nahimas recently reimagined the shoe with suede overlays and light distressing; Super Yaya updated the silhouette with a polka dot canvas option and a patent option with an embossed polka dot design; and Guizio collaborated on an all-black iteration of the sneaker.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The shock and disbelief on their faces in the hospital scene that follows is acutely distressing.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Regardless of a woman’s willpower or lifestyle, hormonal transitions trigger rapid weight gain that is both distressing and medically concerning.
—Latisa S Carson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
However, this becomes problematic when the mind starts treating distressing thoughts as unresolved threats that require constant monitoring.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Her fiction has long been characterized by gruesome imagery and body horror, often sustained by characters whose psychological torment proves even more distressing than their physical conditions.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 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
-
OpenAI had previously flagged her ChatGPT conversations as having a disturbing fascination with extreme violence, and suspended her account, but reportedly the company did not notify law enforcement.—
Anat Lior,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
In an hour-and-a-half interview with the New York Times Popcast that dropped on Thursday, Rodrigo staunchly defended the dress and called the criticism disturbing.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ribeiro’s father never spoke about the difficult moments in his life as an immigrant in a tragic manner.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
-
Though long dead, Faith’s presence continues to haunt the estate, where dark secrets tied to her tragic past remain deeply embedded within the carriage house walls.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Until these vexing unknowns are figured out, AI for mental health will be in an uneasy position and subject to strident criticisms and concerns.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Other Western media outlets, meanwhile, are growing more uneasy about what possible interviews with Lai could mean for their presence in China, The Associated Press reported.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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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
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Once her own pregnancy began, stepping away from work initially felt unfamiliar and slightly unsettling.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
On the opposite side, the Passion façade is stark, angular and unsettling by comparison, telling a very different part of the Christian story in a completely different visual language.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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The timing is particularly unfortunate given the matchup awaiting the Knicks.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2026
-
While loud sounds won’t cause flat cakes, there are reasons for this unfortunate outcome.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Unlike the coolly impassive Pop artists, the Who weren’t afraid to get personal, or to let their art echo the anxious, kinky, maladjusted yammering in their own heads.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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In Rio, the runner was an anxious up-and-comer, the youngest American track-and-field Olympian since 1972.—
Katie Abel,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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People who attend the trial will also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing or otherwise disrupting the proceedings.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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If anything, Horvath writes, ed tech broke American schools by pitching distracting multimedia to boost learning.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressing. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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