Distressful — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /di-ˈstres-fəl/ dis·tress·ful

Meaning & Definition of Distressful

Distressful (adjective)

  1. causing distress, full of distress

Distressful (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings

    "the distressful period during which we waited to learn who had made the cut"

    similar: agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous, restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome
    related: bothersome, troublesome, foreboding, misgiving, discouraging, disheartening, strained, restive, unrestful, awkward, embarrassing
    opposite: calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil
    near: restful, pacific

  2. of a kind to cause great distress

    "the distressful living conditions in the refugee camp"

    similar: deplorable, distressing, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, lamentable, regrettable, tragic, unfortunate, unlucky, woeful
    related: troublesome, vexatious, affecting, doleful, moving, piteous, poignant, ruthful, touching, awful, dire, dreadful, fearful, severe, terrible, alarming, disturbing, perturbing, traumatic, unsettling, crushing, excruciating, harrowing, horrible, horrifying, intolerable, overwhelming, shocking, sickening, unbearable, miserable, pitiful, sad, wretched, calamitous, disastrous, painful, raging, sharp
    near: gratifying, pleasing, rewarding, satisfying, comforting, encouraging, heartening, cheering, heartwarming, inspiring, fortunate, happy, lucky

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Distressful

The most common words with a similar meaning to Distressful:

agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous, restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome, deplorable, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, lamentable, regrettable, tragic, unfortunate, unlucky, woeful

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Distressful

Words with the opposite meaning of Distressful:

calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil

Related Words for Distressful

bothersome, troublesome, foreboding, misgiving, discouraging, disheartening, strained, restive, unrestful, awkward, embarrassing, vexatious, affecting, doleful, moving, piteous, poignant, ruthful, touching, awful, dire, dreadful, fearful, severe, terrible, alarming, perturbing, traumatic, crushing, excruciating

Near Antonyms of Distressful

restful, pacific, gratifying, pleasing, rewarding, satisfying, comforting, encouraging, heartening, cheering, heartwarming, inspiring, fortunate, happy, lucky

Word Forms of Distressful

Derived words: distressfully (adverb), distressfulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Distressful

First known use: 1591

Frequently Asked Questions about Distressful

What does "Distressful" mean?

"Distressful" means causing distress, full of distress. As an adjective, it is defined as: causing distress, full of distress. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Distressful"?

Other words for "Distressful" include agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, fraught and hairy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Distressful" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Distressful"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Distressful". Common alternatives include agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting and nerve-racking.

What is the opposite of "Distressful"?

Antonyms of "Distressful" include calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting and tranquil. Near antonyms include restful, pacific, gratifying and pleasing.

How do you use "Distressful" in a sentence?

Examples of "Distressful" in a sentence: "the distressful period during which we waited to learn who had made the cut"; "the distressful living conditions in the refugee camp".

Is "Distressful" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Distressful" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Distressful"?

"Distressful" is pronounced /di-ˈstres-fəl/ and divided into syllables as dis·tress·ful.

What is the origin of the word "Distressful"?

First known use: 1591.