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

A police spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are very much with his loved ones at this extremely distressing time."

From BBC • May 26, 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

Tinnitus can range from mildly irritating to severely distressing.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

I’d had enough surgery as an older child to know that it was a lengthy, painful, distressing process, and that things could go wrong.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge