1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
distressing signs that another war might be imminent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026
There was something absurd and distressing in that prelude to the domestic drama.
—Andrea Bajani, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
The joblessness and despair of the Great Depression has created a debilitating culture at this small traveling business where everyone is living on top of each other and driving each other to more and more distressing extremes.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
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
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
But someone without my background might have found the experience far more distressing.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026
There was something absurd and distressing in that prelude to the domestic drama.
—Andrea Bajani, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
The joblessness and despair of the Great Depression has created a debilitating culture at this small traveling business where everyone is living on top of each other and driving each other to more and more distressing extremes.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
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
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
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The decision reignites one of the most disturbing trials in recent years – a tale full of drug abuse, domestic violence, false testimony and a missing 5-year-old girl.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
Some clips, showing officers performing rapid and intense chest compressions on Lucy, were so disturbing that members of her family left the courtroom in tears.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Brexton Busch, the 11-year-old son of NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch, did something for the first time since the sudden and tragic passing of his father.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
In his hands, Tom can be buffoonish, tragic, doomed and heroic at once.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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These memories of his brief, sad human life are uneasy dreams that Lestat wakes from on his tour bus as the sun sets over the road to Toledo.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
On top of the tense, uneasy dynamic created by the duo’s pairing, the series is wrapped in a twisty web of peripheral problems.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The closures shrink the countywide advanced voting location network from 18 to 12 voting sites — alarming some Johnson County and city officials and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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For Denver residents like Marisa Saturni-Johnson, the sirens were alarming enough to send her family into shelter.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Upending the character’s world is the arrival of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory, whose unsettling presence coincides with the activities of a serial killer known as The Trawler.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
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Her stance on gay and trans rights has evolved in especially unsettling ways.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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The unfortunate reality is that credit card rates rise quickly but fall slowly.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
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That’s especially unfortunate when the prior episode ended on a cliffhanger with a gang of armed and angry townspeople arriving at the Black Spot for Hank.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Nayyar played the socially anxious Raj Koothrappali, particle astrophysicist and BFF to Leonard.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
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By our nature, we journalists are anxious to report fresh news, including the outcomes of elections.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Finally, toolbars are becoming more consistent, and the distracting icons in drop-down menus are quietly disappearing.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2026
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The formal obligation to bow or curtsy will force targets to bend a knee and break eye contact—a perfect opening for the President to place something distracting like a Twix bar on their heads.—
Dahlia Gallin Ramirez,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressing. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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