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Glite Dictionary
distressingness

distressingness

8.9
A state that causes strong worry and emotional pain
  • noun
  • /dɪˈstrɛsɪŋnəs/
translation icon : aflicción
  • The distressingness of the situation made it hard for anyone to remain calm.

Examples

  • Many found the distressingness of the news too much to bear.

  • She tried to focus on positive outcomes to distract herself from the distressingness of her memories.

  • The distressingness of the news left everyone in shock.

  • Her distressingness was evident after the incident.

  • The distressingness of the news about the earthquake weighed heavily on the community.

  • After the accident, the distressingness of her memories made it difficult for her to sleep.

  • The distressingness experienced by the victims was evident in their emotional reactions.

Synonyms

harshness
vsdistressingness
6 4.1

Very severe or unkind treatment that causes harm

highlights emotional pain and anxiety rather than mere severity or unkindness
painfulness
vsdistressingness
1 3.4

A state that causes physical or emotional hurt

refers only to mental or emotional pain and anxiety not physical hurt
distressfulness
vsdistressingness
8.1

The quality of making people feel very sad, worried, or uncomfortable

focuses on mental or emotional pain and anxiety rather than general discomfort
stressfulness
vsdistressingness
4.4

How much a situation makes people feel worried or tense

centers on emotional pain and anxiety rather than general pressure

Antonyms

happiness
970 1.0

A feeling of pleasure and being satisfied

comfort
190 1.0

A feeling of physical ease and being free from pain

How Distressing

trauma
  • Specialized
304 4.8
distress
240 3.6
distressingness
8.9
discomfort
119 3.2
unease
19 4.4

Surface Forms

distressingness singular
distressingnesses plural

Morphology

distressingness = distressing (transparent) = distress + ing + ness

The noun is a regular nominalization of the adjective 'distressing' using '-ness', yielding 'the quality of being distressing'.

Etymology

Distressingness comes from distress, which is like strong 'stress' or 'worry', and the endings -ing and -ness turn that into the 'quality' or state of causing pain or anxiety. So, distressingness means the quality of causing mental or emotional pain.