128 entries under upsetting topic. ×

5
onerous(adjective, hard, severe, rough, difficult)
4
alarming(adjective, hard, severe, offensive)
4
disagreeable(adjective, hard, tough, severe, rough)
4
exasperating(adjective, awkward, uneasy, uncomfortable)
4
horrible(adjective, obscure, offensive, dark, awful)
4
loathsome(adjective, wicked, shocking, dreadful)
4
nagging(adjective, painful, burning, irritating)
4
ominous(adjective, hard, severe, offensive, awful)
4
wounding(verb, adjective, awful, terrible, cruel)
3
aggravating(adjective, offensive, shocking, irritating)
3
mischievous(adjective, cruel, wicked, unkind)
3
nasty(adjective, tough, offensive, unpleasant, terrible)
3
offensive(adjective, bad, severe, poor, unpleasant)
3
sickening(disgusting, shocking, dreadful, horrifying)
3
traumatic(adjective, shocking, disturbing)
3
unnerving(adjective, disgusting, shocking, disturbing)
2
abhorrent(shocking, frightening)
2
cutting(adjective, strong, violent, cruel, painful)
2
dangerous(adjective, cruel, wicked, shocking, unkind)
2
deadly(cruel, unkind, harmful, damaging)
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APASmart Define. (2015). distressing thesaurus. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "distressing thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 24, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, distressing thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 24 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "distressing thesaurus" 3 August 2015. Web. 24 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>