WordWeb Online

1. Causing distress, worry or anxiety
   "distressing news";
   - distressful, disturbing, perturbing, troubling, worrisome, worrying, concerning
    
2. Bad; unfortunate
   "my finances were in a distressing state";
   - deplorable, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorry

1. Bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship
   - straiten
    
2. Cause mental pain to
   "The news of her child's illness distressed the mother"

See also: bad, heavy

Type of: bother, discommode, disoblige, disturb, incommode, inconvenience, put out, trouble, upset

Encyclopedia: Distressing