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.

She recalled a distressing incident during a school open day where Hannah was nearly served food containing milk.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

She said many of the women at her clinics struggled with confidence due to the distressing symptoms, with the excessive hair growth often on their faces, chests and backs.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

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

A spokeswoman for BA said it was "an extremely difficult, complex and distressing situation", adding Mason's condition was not the reason for its decision.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Then the scanty supply of food was distressing: with the keen appetites of growing children, we had scarcely sufficient to keep alive a delicate invalid.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë