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

"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

The conversation with Mrs. Helm lasted several minutes, and was most distressing to Mother Truitt, who could hear nothing of it except the noncommittal monosyllabic responses of her daughter.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote