20
distressing(adjective, happy, pain, disturbing)
13
grievous(adjective, painful, adverse)
11
painful(adjective, painful)
10
troublesome(adjective, happy, pain, painful, adverse)
10
worrisome(adjective, happy, pain, disturbing)
9
worrying(adjective, disturbing)
8
bitter(adjective, painful)
8
disturbing(adjective, happy, pain)
8
perturbing(adjective, happy, pain, disturbing)
8
upsetting(adjective, happy, pain, disturbing)
7
agonizing(adjective, painful)
7
sad
7
woeful(adjective, painful, adverse)
6
excruciating(adjective, painful)
6
severe(adjective, painful)
6
sore(adjective, painful)
6
troubling
5
burdensome(adjective, painful, adverse)
5
calamitous(adjective, adverse)
5
heavy
<1234510>
11 years ago|5.2k views|share |citing 
APASmart Define. (2015). distressful thesaurus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/distressful/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "distressful thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/distressful/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, distressful thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/distressful/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "distressful thesaurus" 14 April 2015. Web. 20 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/distressful/thesaurus/synonyms>