Distressful vs. Distressing

Distressfuladjective

Causing or feeling distress, strain, or anxiety.

Distressingadjective

Causing distress; upsetting; distressful.

‘The details of the ordeal can be distressing to some readers.’;

Distressfuladjective

Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with, distress; as, a distressful situation.

Distressingadjective

Causing distress; painful; unpleasant.

Distressfuladjective

causing distress or worry or anxiety;

‘distressing (or disturbing) news’; ‘lived in heroic if something distressful isolation’; ‘a disturbing amount of crime’; ‘a revelation that was most perturbing’; ‘a new and troubling thought’; ‘in a particularly worrisome predicament’; ‘a worrying situation’; ‘a worrying time’;

Distressingadverb

In a distressing manner.

Distressingadjective

causing distress or worry or anxiety;

‘distressing (or disturbing) news’; ‘lived in heroic if something distressful isolation’; ‘a disturbing amount of crime’; ‘a revelation that was most perturbing’; ‘a new and troubling thought’; ‘in a particularly worrisome predicament’; ‘a worrying situation’; ‘a worrying time’;

Distressingadjective

bad; unfortunate;

‘my finances were in a deplorable state’; ‘a lamentable decision’; ‘her clothes were in sad shape’; ‘a sorry state of affairs’;

Distressing

Distressing (or weathered look) in the decorative arts is the activity of making a piece of furniture or object appear aged and older, giving it a , and there are many methods to produce an appearance of age and wear. Distressing is viewed as a refinishing technique although it is the opposite of finishing in a traditional sense.

‘weathered look’;