distressful

Everyday

1. Causing pain, worry or sadness; upsetting. tree →
2. Full of trouble and suffering. tree →

In the lessons

A rare, slightly old-fashioned word; today people usually say «distressing». It describes a sight, piece of news or time that hurts people's feelings. In old books it may describe hard times, a sad cry or a painful journey.

Examples

• It was a distressful sight to see the flooded houses. tree →
• The ship's crew had a long, distressful voyage through the storm. tree →
• The news of the accident was distressful for the whole town. tree →
• The lost puppy gave a distressful whine. tree →
• Moving away from all her friends was a distressful time for Ella. tree →
• The old poem tells of distressful days of war and hunger. tree →

Note

Adjective; in modern English «distressing» is much more common, and «distressed» describes the person who feels upset. «Distress» is the noun (a ship in distress = in danger). Spelling: double s twice — distre-ss-ful.