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Webster 1913 Edition

Adj.

Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with, distress;

as, a

distressful

situation

“Some distressful stroke.”

Shak.

“Distressful cries.”

Pope.

Syn. – distressing.

–

Dis-tress′ful-ly

adv.

Adj.

Inflicting or bringing distress; as a distressful stroke.

Indicating distress; proceeding from pain or anguish; as distressful cries.

Calamitous; as a distressful event.

Attended with poverty; as distressful bread.

distressful ‎(comparative more distressful, superlative most distressful)