English Dictionary

DISTRESSFUL

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does distressful mean? 

DISTRESSFUL (adjective)
  The adjective DISTRESSFUL has 1 sense:

1. causing distress or worry or anxietyplay

  Familiarity information: DISTRESSFUL used as an adjective is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


DISTRESSFUL (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Causing distress or worry or anxiety

Synonyms:

distressful; distressing; disturbing; perturbing; troubling; worrisome; worrying

Context example:

a worrying time

Similar:

heavy (marked by great psychological weight; weighted down especially with sadness or troubles or weariness)

Derivation:

distressfulness (the quality of arousing fear or distress)


 Context examples 


For an instant, a distressful shadow crossed her face; but, even in the start it gave me, it was gone; and she was playing on, and looking at me with her own calm smile.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Give a dog a bad name and hang him." (English proverb)

"We are all related." (Native American proverb, Lakota)

"If the roots are not removed during weeding, the weeds will return when the winds of Spring season blows." (Chinese proverb)

"The pen is mightier than the sword." (Dutch proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact