distressful
Producing mental pain
Distressful means causing distress or full of distress—painful, upsetting, or marked by suffering.
The word is somewhat literary and old-fashioned; most speakers would choose *distressing* instead: distressing news rather than distressful news.
It was a distressful time for the family.
Intensely painful or distressing
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
- torturousCausing extreme pain
- excruciatingCausing extreme suffering
- wrenchingForceful turning or yanking
traumatic · grievous · painful · tormenting · suffering · anguish · afflictive · heartrending
Severe difficulty or suffering
- tribulationState of great distress
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
- plightDifficult, dangerous situation
misfortune · woe · predicament · struggle · turmoil · misery · desolation · heartache
Troubled mental state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- tensionStretched or strained state
nervousness · angst · restlessness · trepidation · disquiet · fretfulness · edginess · panic
agonizing
Intensely painful or distressing
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
- torturousCausing extreme pain
- excruciatingCausing extreme suffering
wrenching · traumatic · grievous · painful · tormenting · suffering · anguish · afflictive · heartrending · gut-wrenching
adversity
Severe difficulty or suffering
- tribulationState of great distress
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
plight · misfortune · woe · predicament · struggle · turmoil · misery · desolation · heartache · despair
worry
Troubled mental state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
tension · nervousness · angst · restlessness · trepidation · disquiet · fretfulness · edginess · panic · agitation
crisis
Decisive dangerous moment
catastrophe · dire · desperate · critical · acute · perilous · grave · serious · rescue · SOS
distressfulcomforting
Giving emotional ease
reassuring · heartening · encouraging · gratifying · pleasing