distressing

Adjective

distressing (comparative more distressing, superlative most distressing)

1. Causing distress; upsetting; distressful.
   • The details of the ordeal can be distressing to some readers.
   • One end of the east-west building is wet, the other windy, and at present there is smoke abounding, too; but these distressing yard elements can be completely excluded at each end by full-width folding doors [...].1960 December, “New G.E. Line diesel loco maintenance depot at Stratford”, in Trains Illustrated, page 766

   Synonyms:

   nerve-racking, deplorable, saddening, grim, atrabiliary, atrabilious, depressing, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending