Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Distressing \Dis*tress"ing\, a.
   Causing distress; painful; unpleasant.

Distressing \Dis*tress"ing\, adv.
   In a distressing manner.

Distress \Dis*tress"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Distressed}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Distressing}.] [Cf. OF. destrecier. See {Distress},
   n.]
   1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with
      calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable.

            We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
                                                  --2 Cor. iv.
                                                  8.

   2. To compel by pain or suffering.

            Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a
            sacrifice of duty.                    --A. Hamilton.

   3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.

   Syn: To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict;
        worry; annoy.

Source : WordNet®

distressing
     adj 1: 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" [syn: {distressful}, {disturbing}, {perturbing},
             {troubling}, {worrisome}, {worrying}]
     2: bad; unfortunate; "my finances were in a deplorable state";
        "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape";
        "a sorry state of affairs" [syn: {deplorable}, {lamentable},
         {pitiful}, {sad}, {sorry}]