distressful Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite causing distress or worry or anxiety
    distressing; perturbing; troubling; disturbing; worrying; worrisome.
    • distressing (or disturbing) news
    • lived in heroic if something distressful isolation
    • a disturbing amount of crime
    • a revelation that was most perturbing
    • a new and troubling thought
    • in a particularly worrisome predicament
    • a worrying situation
    • a worrying time

WordNet

Dis*tress"ful adjective
Definitions
  1. Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with, distress; as, a distressful situation. "Some distressful stroke." Shak. "Distressful cries." Pope. -- Dis*tress"ful*ly, adv.

Webster 1913