DISTRESSFUL, adjective 1. Inflicting or bringing distress; as a distressful stroke. 2. Indicating distress; proceeding from pain or anguish; as distressful cries. 3. Calamitous; as a distressful event. 4. Attended with poverty; as distressful bread.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI