11
alarming(verb, adjective, hard, severe, shocking)
10
frightening(verb, adjective, hard, severe, offensive)
8
appalling
8
daunting(verb, adjective, dejecting)
7
depressing(adjective, depression, sadness, down, woe)
7
startling(verb, adjective, hard, severe, offensive)
6
disheartening(verb, dejecting)
6
distressing(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, disgusting)
6
scaring(verb, alarming)
5
cringeworthy(adjective, depression, sadness, down, woe)
5
discouraging(verb, hard, severe, offensive, distressing)
5
formidable(adjective, difficult, horrible, overwhelming, terrifying)
5
terrifying
5
upsetting(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, disgusting)
4
chilling
4
discomforting(hard, severe, offensive, distressing, upsetting)
4
disconcerting(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, distressing)
4
disquieting(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, shocking)
4
disturbing(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, shocking)
4
horrifying
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APASmart Define. (2015). dismaying thesaurus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/dismaying/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "dismaying thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/dismaying/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, dismaying thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/dismaying/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "dismaying thesaurus" 14 April 2015. Web. 20 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/dismaying/thesaurus/synonyms>