What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wainful
Example
The athlete's injury was wainful and required months of rehabilitation. [wainful: adjective]
Example
It was wainful to watch the family struggle with financial difficulties. [wainful: adjective]
distressing
Example
The news of the accident was distressing for everyone involved. [distressing: adjective]
Example
It was distressing to see the damage caused by the natural disaster. [distressing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distressing is more commonly used than wainful in everyday language. Distressing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while wainful is less common and has a more specific meaning.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wainful and distressing?
Both wainful and distressing are formal words that are appropriate for use in serious or professional contexts. However, distressing may be more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
