Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

distressing

adjective
 
 
/dɪˈstres.ɪŋ/ (US usually distressful)

Definition

B2 upsetting or worrying: The television reports about the famine were particularly distressing. It was deeply distressing for him to see his wife in such pain.Saddening, shocking and upsetting distressingly
 
 
/-li/ adverb
Saddening, shocking and upsetting
(Definition of distressing adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“distressing” in other dictionaries

More Results for “distressing”

Word of the Day

be under a cloud

to not be trusted or popular because people think you have done something bad

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More