1. in a manner that causes or expresses severe pain, anxiety, or suffering

Examples

• She spoke distressfully about the loss of her home in the fire.
• The patient groaned distressfully as the doctor examined the injury.
• He watched distressfully as his savings dwindled away.
• The news was distressfully familiar to those who had lived through the crisis before.
• She looked distressfully at the broken vase, knowing her mother would be upset.