distressing task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distressing task" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task that causes emotional pain or discomfort. Example: "The volunteer work involved a distressing task of sorting through the belongings of those affected by the disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Results indicated that Perceived Sleep Quality was associated with self-reported distress tolerance and increased frustration on a distressing task, after accounting for covariates.

Personality and Individual Differences

His role is an important daily reminder that Mr Mandela's failing health is an intensely personal issue for many of those now involved in the distressing task of managing the flow of information from a Pretoria hospital bed, to a waiting world.

BBC

It is an emotionally distressing task.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Britons, though, obediently proffered their candidates, whilst pretending to find the task distressing.

The Economist

The soldiers who handled the bodies found the task "extremely distressing and upsetting and one that had a profound and lasting effect on them", according to the report.

The Guardian

With increasingly cruel tasks and distressing living situations (I still haven't got over them banning books), the housemates' tempers frayed, getting worse by the year, and when all else failed, the producers shoved a crateload of booze in and hoped for a fight.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

To index intrusion frequency in the recovery period as a function of condition, the number of times participants spontaneously mentioned the content of the distressing video during the SOC task was also computed.

Behaviour Research and Therapy

People who perform a cognitively demanding secondary task while recalling a distressing memory often experience the memory as less emotional, vivid, or accurate during subsequent recollections.

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

At the beginning and end of the retreat, the participants also had their cortisol levels measured with a saliva test, and their mindfulness levels rated on a scale, which Jacobs explained in the statement "measured the participants' propensity to let go of distressing thoughts and attend to different sensory domains, daily tasks, and the current contents of their minds".

Huffington Post

In this experiment, we tested whether the emotional valence (positive versus neutral) and sensory modality (visual, auditory, or both) of a secondary task diminishes the emotionality, vividness, and accuracy of memory of distressing videos.

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

Parents face the awesome task of dealing with their own reactions and feelings without distressing their child any further [ 49].

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "distressing task", consider the specific emotion or discomfort it evokes. Choose synonyms that more accurately reflect the nature of the emotional impact if needed.

Common error

Avoid using "distressing task" for tasks that are merely inconvenient or mildly challenging. Reserve it for situations that genuinely cause emotional upset or significant mental burden.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distressing task" functions primarily as a descriptor, modifying the noun "task" to indicate its emotionally upsetting or disturbing nature. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "distressing task" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a task that evokes significant emotional discomfort or upset. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans various contexts including news, science, and formal business settings. While not extremely common, the phrase serves a valuable communicative purpose by emphasizing the psychological burden associated with certain assignments. When using this phrase, consider the emotional intensity you wish to convey and explore alternatives to refine the impact, such as "painful task" or "troubling task". Be mindful not to overuse it for tasks that are only mildly inconvenient.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

painful task

Replaces "distressing" with "painful", focusing on the unpleasantness and potential emotional hurt.

upsetting task

Substitutes "distressing" with "upsetting", highlighting the emotional disturbance caused by the task.

troubling task

Replaces "distressing" with "troubling", emphasizing the worry and concern associated with the task.

difficult task

Replaces "distressing" with "difficult", focusing on the challenging nature of the task rather than the emotional impact.

demanding task

Substitutes "distressing" with "demanding", highlighting the high level of effort and attention required.

challenging task

Replaces "distressing" with "challenging", emphasizing the difficulty and the need for skill and determination.

arduous task

Substitutes "distressing" with "arduous", highlighting the strenuous and laborious nature of the task.

onerous task

Replaces "distressing" with "onerous", emphasizing the burden and oppressiveness of the task.

unpleasant task

Substitutes "distressing" with "unpleasant", focusing on the disagreeable nature of the task.

trying task

Replaces "distressing" with "trying", highlighting the testing and exhausting nature of the task.

FAQs

How can I use "distressing task" in a sentence?

You can use "distressing task" to describe assignments that cause emotional pain or discomfort. For example: "The volunteer work involved a "distressing task" of sorting through the belongings of those affected by the disaster."

What are some alternatives to "distressing task"?

Alternatives include phrases like "painful task", "upsetting task", or "troubling task", which convey similar meanings with slight variations in emotional intensity.

When is it appropriate to use "distressing task"?

Use "distressing task" when the task evokes significant emotional upset, anxiety, or mental burden. It's suitable for situations that cause genuine discomfort beyond mere inconvenience.

What's the difference between "distressing task" and "difficult task"?

"Distressing task" emphasizes the emotional impact of a task, while "difficult task" focuses on the level of challenge or effort required. A distressing task causes emotional pain, while a difficult task is simply hard to accomplish.