Synonyms for distressing
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Deplorable
deplorable, lamentable, painful, sad, grievous, worrying, disturbing, bad, upsetting, sorrowful, troubling, depressing, saddening, alarming, mournful, troublesome, tragic, worrisome, severe, regrettable, unhappy, poignant
Definitions
- adj. 1
Causing distress; upsetting; distressful.
The details of the ordeal can be distressing to some readers.
Example sentences
- painful She is still in the painful process of growing up.
- worrying Her family can't help worrying about her injuries.
- deplorable The roads of this city are in deplorable condition.
- lamentable And now let's discuss the lamentable state of affairs.
- embarrassing Fancy forgetting my glasses, it's so embarrassing.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| distressing | steady | |
| painful | rising | |
| worrying | rising | |
| deplorable | falling | |
| lamentable | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- bad1, sad1
- 6 letters
- trying2, severe2, tragic2
- 7 letters
- painful2, unhappy3
- 8 letters
- worrying3, alarming3, poignant2, grievous2, mournful2
- 9 letters
- upsetting3, troubling3, worrisome3, sorrowful3, saddening3
- 10 letters
- disturbing3, depressing3, deplorable4, lamentable4
- 11 letters
- troublesome3, regrettable4
- 12 letters
- embarrassing4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (trying2 = 2 syllables).