Dreadful
Dreadful adjective - Causing fear.
Usage example: a dreadful hurricane
Distressing is a synonym for dreadful in unfortunate topic. In some cases you can use "Distressing" instead an adjective "Dreadful", when it comes to topics like terrible, horrible.
Distressing
Distressing adjective - Causing worry or anxiety.
Usage example: distressing signs that another war might be imminent
Dreadful is a synonym for distressing in upsetting topic. Sometimes you can use "Dreadful" instead an adjective "Distressing".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- woeful and dreadful
- woeful and distressing
- painful and dreadful
- painful and distressing
- grievous and dreadful
- grievous and distressing
- sad and dreadful
- sad and distressing
- abominable and dreadful
- abominable and distressing
- bad and dreadful
- bad and distressing
- deplorable and dreadful
- deplorable and distressing
Cite this Source
Distressing and Dreadful. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/dreadful/distressing
Dreadful & Distressing. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/dreadful/distressing>.
Distressing or Dreadful. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/dreadful/distressing.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "dreadful" and "distressing" have occurred on timeline