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Definition of distressful

distressful

/dɪˈstrɛsfəl/
dis · tress · ful
Adverb:distressfully
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distressful Lexical Profile

distressful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing or involving severe anxiety, sorrow, or hardship.

Example

"The sudden closure of the factory created a distressful situation for hundreds of local families."

2

Experiencing or expressing suffering, anguish, or misery.

Example

"She let out a distressful sigh after reading the unfavorable letter from the committee."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for distressful
Antonyms
View all antonyms for distressful

Word Nuance & Usage

While "distressful" is grammatically valid, contemporary English strongly favors "distressing" when describing something that causes distress, and "distressed" when describing someone experiencing it.

• Rhymes for distressful

• Nearby Words

distraught
distress
distressed
distressful
distressing
distressingly
distributable

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Distressful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/distressful
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