distressing

1 causing worry or anxiety distressing signs that another war might be imminent Synonyms discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, troublesome, disturbing, nagging, nasty, perturbing, troubling, troublous, unsettling, upsetting, worrisomeRelated Words daunting, demoralizing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting; chilling, frightening, scary; harassing, persecutive, persecutory; alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, scary, shocking, terrible, terrifyingNear Antonyms calming, quieting, settling, soothing; comforting, consoling, dreamy, inviting, lulling, narcotic, pacifying, relaxing, sedative, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing)Antonyms reassuring

2 of a kind to cause great distress the distressing death of our favorite actor Synonyms deplorable, distressful, regrettable, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, lamentable, tragic (also tragical), unfortunate, unlucky, woefulRelated Words troublesome, vexatious; affecting, doleful, moving, piteous, poignant, ruthful, touching; awful, dire, dreadful, fearful, severe, terrible; alarming, disturbing, perturbing, traumatic, unsettling; crushing, excruciating, harrowing, horrible, horrifying, intolerable, overwhelming, shocking, sickening, unbearable; miserable, pitiful, sad, wretched; calamitous, disastrous; painful, raging, sharpNear Antonyms gratifying, pleasing, rewarding, satisfying; comforting, encouraging, heartening; cheering, heartwarming, inspiring; fortunate, happy, lucky

3 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings the distressing habit of constantly fiddling with her hair Synonyms agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, nervous, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking (or nerve-wracking), restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisomeRelated Words bothersome, troublesome; foreboding, misgiving; discouraging, disheartening, strained; restive, restless, unrestful; awkward, embarrassingNear Antonyms restful; pacificAntonyms calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil