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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the distressing habit of constantly fiddling with her hair
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distressing
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Smith shares a distressing anecdote.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 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, 6 Mar. 2026
Some agencies recommend switching off the news entirely or limiting conversations about distressing events with other adults if children can hear.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Medication Sometimes the fatigue can be very distressing and cannot be managed by non-pharmacological therapies.
—Doru Paul, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2026
In our recent, not-yet-successful efforts to reform gerrymandering abuses in Illinois, my associates and I have received disquieting, even distressing, feedback about our state.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But for a person in recovery from an eating disorder, focusing too much on diet can be psychologically distressing.
—Mara Gordon, NPR, 27 Feb. 2026
Following Kellou, a young woman who sees distressing visions of the past and future, the film is both a mystical parable and a metaphor-heavy narrative.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 Feb. 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
While the book contains a small number of images of nudity, they are presented with unguarded vulnerability, including depictions of distressing medical experiences.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Smith shares a distressing anecdote.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 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, 6 Mar. 2026
Some agencies recommend switching off the news entirely or limiting conversations about distressing events with other adults if children can hear.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Medication Sometimes the fatigue can be very distressing and cannot be managed by non-pharmacological therapies.
—Doru Paul, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2026
In our recent, not-yet-successful efforts to reform gerrymandering abuses in Illinois, my associates and I have received disquieting, even distressing, feedback about our state.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But for a person in recovery from an eating disorder, focusing too much on diet can be psychologically distressing.
—Mara Gordon, NPR, 27 Feb. 2026
Following Kellou, a young woman who sees distressing visions of the past and future, the film is both a mystical parable and a metaphor-heavy narrative.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 Feb. 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
-
Though intensely disturbing, a scene where a TV shows a distorted iteration of a character that Ohm watched as a kid rings out of place, even if the context involves his mother’s tragic passing.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
If true, this is obviously disturbing.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Frankenstein is nominated for nine Academy Awards, including nods for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor, the latter for Jacob Elordi's portrayal of the tragic monster.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The novel refuses to package trans lives as tragic or easily digestible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Shadow of Turkmenchay The uneasy relationship between the two powers stretches back nearly two centuries.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Residents who attended the rally said the situation has left many neighbors uneasy.—
Ross DiMattei,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
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Recently, something new appeared on the landscape, alarming wildlife advocates like Christina Aiello.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Instead of an attack, the play offers something more unsettling, a meditation on the allure of a bad life and the trap of a good one.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Hair changes can feel unsettling, especially during life stages like postpartum recovery or menopause.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The interviews themselves are informative, but unobtrusive, and the while intimate footage of Frazier and Reynolds’ personal lives paints a slightly wider picture of their circumstances, their moods in the aftermath of their unfortunate digital breakthroughs is kept largely at an arm’s length.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Juicy is in the unfortunate position of following Jane.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Over a week, readers were treated to a raft of anxious baby content.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Tokyo is also becoming increasingly anxious about Chinese missiles targeting Japanese bases.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There is a difference, lawmakers said, between keeping the Zoom call on a phone on a passenger seat versus directly watching the Zoom meeting in a way that is distracting.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
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State officials argued that street art designs are distracting and can pose a safety risk.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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