distressful

[ dih-stres-fuhl ]

adjective

1. causing or involving distress:

   the distressful circumstances of poverty and sickness.

2. full of, feeling, or indicating distress:

   a distressful cry.

Other Words From

• dis·tressful·ly adverb
• dis·tressful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of distressful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; distress + -ful