7
heartbreaking(adjective, mean, moving, poor, low)
7
irksome(adjective, difficult, offensive, awkward, shocking)
7
not good
7
raw(adjective, painful, sickness, ache, anguishes)
7
stinging(verb, adjective, tender, raw, painful)
6
arduous(adjective, difficult, harsh, tender, cruel)
6
burning(adjective, painful, sickness, ache, anguishes)
6
caustic(adjective, painful, sickness, ache, anguishes)
6
cheerless(adjective, mean, low, sad, pain)
6
cringeworthy
6
damaging(adjective, awful, terrible, cruel, unkind)
6
dismaying(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, disgusting)
6
embarrassing(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, awkward)
6
harassing(verb, hard, severe, offensive, upsetting)
6
harmful(adjective, awful, terrible, cruel, unkind)
6
harsh(adjective, hard, tough, severe, rough)
6
inflamed(adjective, painful, sickness, ache, anguishes)
6
smarting(verb, adjective, hurt, tender, painful)
6
torturing(verb, adjective, shocking, upsetting, disturbing)
6
unbearable(adjective, awful, terrible, painful, wretched)
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APASmart Define. (2015). distressing thesaurus. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "distressing thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 22, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, distressing thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "distressing thesaurus" 3 August 2015. Web. 22 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>