13
mournful(adjective, sad, pain, unhappy, sorrow)
13
pitiful(adjective, mean, poor, sad, shape)
13
sore(adjective, painful, angry, sickness, ache)
13
tormenting(verb, adjective, painful, sickness, ache)
12
acute(adjective, strong, severe, tender, intense)
12
dire(adjective, severe, tender, unpleasant, awful)
12
sorrowful(adjective, upset, sad, unhappy, sorrow)
11
bitter(adjective, hard, moving, tough, rough)
11
difficult(adjective, severe, rough, harsh, tender)
11
dreadful(adjective, wicked, horrible, painful, sickness)
11
troubling(verb, adjective, hard, severe, offensive)
11
uncomfortable(adjective, rough, painful, sickness, ache)
11
woeful(adjective, mean, moving, poor, low)
10
aching(verb, adjective, painful, sickness, ache)
10
annoying(adjective, rough, tender, offensive, unpleasant)
10
bad(adjective, severe, poor, sad, offensive)
10
burdensome(adjective, difficult, offensive, awkward, shocking)
10
disquieting(adjective, hard, severe, happy, pain)
10
dolorous(adjective, sad, unhappy, sorrow, miserable)
10
hard(adjective, rough, difficult, harsh, tender)
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APASmart Define. (2015). distressing thesaurus. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "distressing thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, distressing thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "distressing thesaurus" 3 August 2015. Web. 21 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>