distressing
Causing emotional pain
Distressing describes something that causes worry, sorrow, or emotional pain: distressing news, a distressing situation.
The word suggests genuine upset rather than mere inconvenience—you might find a delayed flight annoying, but a loved one's diagnosis distressing.
What's distressing troubles the mind and weighs on the heart.
Deep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- despairTotal absence of hope
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
desolation · misery · suffering · agony · woe · hopelessness · bereavement · lamentation
Persistent apprehensive distress
- concernTroubled interest in something
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- fearEmotional response to threat
trepidation · foreboding · misgiving · fretting · alarming · troubling · unsettling · disturbing
Mild persistent worry
- disquietMental unrest or agitation
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- self-consciousnessUncomfortable awareness of oneself
tension · restlessness · nervousness · agitation · malaise · queasiness · edginess · perturbation
Persistent dull discomfort
- sorenessTender, painful sensation
- throbBeat with intensity
- stingSharp wound from insect
- pangBrief sharp sensation
cramp · tenderness · rawness · twinge · spasm · gnawing · burning · stinging
heartache
Deep emotional distress
torment · desolation · misery · suffering · agony · woe · hopelessness · bereavement · lamentation · melancholy
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- concernTroubled interest in something
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
fear · trepidation · foreboding · misgiving · fretting · alarming · troubling · unsettling · disturbing · worrying
unease
Mild persistent worry
- disquietMental unrest or agitation
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
self-consciousness · tension · restlessness · nervousness · agitation · malaise · queasiness · edginess · perturbation · consternation
ache
Persistent dull discomfort
pang · cramp · tenderness · rawness · twinge · spasm · gnawing · burning · stinging · smarting
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
turmoil · collapse · meltdown · chaos · hardship · adversity · bankruptcy · recession · famine · epidemic
flashback
Involuntary past memory
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
- triggerWhat initiates action
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
survivor · victim · therapy · counseling · healing · recovery · traumatic · scar · wound · psychological
- decoratingdecorating, adorning, embellishing, ornamenting, beautifying
- application techniquesbrushing, rolling, spraying, dipping, sponging
- decorative finishesfaux finish, faux finishes, glazing, varnish, patina
- Decoupagedecoupage, collage, napkins, tissue paper, glue
- Painted Furniturestenciling, gilding, lacquer, antiquing, brushwork
- prop makingmask making, mold making, sculpting, resin casting, foam
distressingcomforting
Giving emotional ease
reassuring · heartening · uplifting · cheering · soothing
distressingcomforting
Giving emotional ease
soothing · consoling · calming · relieving · palliative