79 entries under shocking topic. ×

24
painful(adjective, moving, tough, severe, rough)
24
upsetting(adjective, hard, moving, severe, happy)
22
severe(adjective, tough, difficult, harsh, tender)
20
disturbing(adjective, hard, moving, severe, happy)
15
awful(adjective, bad, severe, sad, tender)
15
terrible(adjective, severe, difficult, sad, tender)
13
depressing(adjective, hard, obscure, sad, pain)
10
annoying(adjective, rough, tender, offensive, unpleasant)
10
bad(adjective, severe, poor, sad, offensive)
10
burdensome(adjective, difficult, offensive, awkward)
9
racking(verb, adjective, strong, violent)
8
bothersome(adjective, severe, difficult, offensive, unpleasant)
8
torturous(adjective, upsetting, disturbing, tormenting)
8
unpleasant(adjective, tough, severe, harsh, tender)
7
irksome(adjective, difficult, offensive, awkward)
6
harsh(adjective, hard, tough, severe, rough)
6
torturing(verb, adjective, upsetting, disturbing)
5
heart-rending(adjective, awful, terrible, miserable)
5
serious(adjective, tough, severe, rough, difficult)
4
appalling(adjective, bad, awful, terrible)
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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>