Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb distress
2 senses of distress
Sense 1
straiten, distress -- (bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship)
=> trouble, put out, inconvenience, disoblige, discommode, incommode, bother -- (to cause inconvenience or discomfort to; "Sorry to trouble you, but...")
Sense 2
distress -- (cause mental pain to; "The news of her child's illness distressed the mother")
=> disturb, upset, trouble -- (move deeply; "This book upset me"; "A troubling thought")
Antonyms of adj distressing
2 senses of distressing
Sense 1
distressing, distressful, disturbing, perturbing, troubling, worrisome, worrying -- (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")
INDIRECT (VIA heavy) -> light -- (psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles; "a light heart")
Sense 2
deplorable, distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorry -- (bad; unfortunate; "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs")
INDIRECT (VIA bad) -> good -- (having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; "good news from the hospital"; "a good report card"; "when she was good she was very very good"; "a good knife is one good for cutting"; "this stump will make a good picnic table"; "a good check"; "a good joke"; "a good exterior paint"; "a good secretary"; "a good dress for the office")
Similarity of adj distressing
2 senses of distressing
Sense 1
distressing, distressful, disturbing, perturbing, troubling, worrisome, worrying -- (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")
=> heavy (vs. light) -- (marked by great psychological weight; weighted down especially with sadness or troubles or weariness; "a heavy heart"; "a heavy schedule"; "heavy news"; "a heavy silence"; "heavy eyelids")
Sense 2
deplorable, distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorry -- (bad; unfortunate; "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs")
=> bad (vs. good) -- (having undesirable or negative qualities; "a bad report card"; "his sloppy appearance made a bad impression"; "a bad little boy"; "clothes in bad shape"; "a bad cut"; "bad luck"; "the news was very bad"; "the reviews were bad"; "the pay is bad"; "it was a bad light for reading"; "the movie was a bad choice")