Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

distressing

/dɪˈstɹɛsɪŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.20 in modern English

Syllables: dis-tress-ing
IPA: /dɪˈstɹɛsɪŋ/

13

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Causing distress; upsetting; distressful.

verb

present participle and gerund of distress

Example Sentences

"The details of the ordeal can be distressing to some readers."
"One end of the east-west building is wet, the other windy, and at present there is smoke abounding, too; but these distressing yard elements can be completely excluded at each end by full-width folding doors [...]."

Inflected Forms

more distressing (comparative) most distressing (superlative)

Derived Forms

distressingly distressingness undistressing

Synonyms

nerve-racking deplorable saddening grim atrabiliary atrabilious depressing distressing grievous heartbreaking heartrending miserable

Rhymes With

dressing pressing blessing addressing expressing guessing depressing messing assessing possessing progressing stressing

Questions

How do you pronounce distressing?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈstɹɛsɪŋ/.
What does distressing mean?: Causing distress; upsetting; distressful.

How to pronounce distressing

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “distressing”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪˈstɹɛsɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “distressing”.
Repeat and practice — Say “distressing” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.