definition of
distressful

[1] #1 distressful s. [distressing, disturbing, perturbing, troubling, worrisome, worrying] causing distress or worry or anxiety; "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 worr. wn