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 worr
5
afflictive
causing misery or pain or distress; "it was a sore trial to him"; "the painful process of growing up"
2
painful
causing physical or psychological pain; "worked with painful slowness"