distressing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dan used a horizontal bar lined with LED lights that kept my eyes dancing and darting as he prompted me to recall a distressing childhood memory.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

"The residents of the property had to be moved in the middle of the night, which was an extremely distressing experience for them."

From BBC • May 25, 2026

Tinnitus can range from mildly irritating to severely distressing.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

"She expressed that it was a very distressing experience, and while she may not communicate verbally in detail, her emotions and reactions made it very clear how it affected her," says Sarah.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

He looked vaguely like the little boy in the picture in Gabriel Pérdido’s wallet, which weighed me down as I thought of the distressing news we were bearing.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall