less distressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less distressing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the level of distress caused by two or more situations, indicating that one is not as distressing as the other. Example: "The new policy is less distressing for employees than the previous one, which caused a lot of anxiety."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Although there were 3 occasions where the child, equally scored both treatment halves, the respective carer and nursing staff member, consistently indicated that the child's behaviour was less distressed and calmer during the treatment when VR was applied, suggesting that VR made it less distressing for the child.

BMC Pediatrics

Less distressing was the October wedding of eldest son Frederick, who married into an American family.

Stanford University

Beyond the momentary jolt lay a broader realization, no less distressing.

The New York Times

Benjamin, after all, had contemplated killing himself at least once before, under far less distressing conditions.

The New York Times - Arts

But once they start opening the animals up, I have to switch to something less distressing, like "Oz".

The New York Times

The new drugs are a step towards that, and should make living with the disease less distressing.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Dreaming about trauma, like talking it over in therapy, helps render it less "uniquely distressing," he says, and weaves it into a fabric of memories that we can live with.

The New Yorker

Incremental shifts, like a client being less troubled by distressing voices.

The Guardian

After what Miller and Mosley had gone through it seemed less horrible, though distressing all the same.

The Guardian

However, patients also reported less vivid and distressing images after memory rescripting.

Behavior Therapy

In addition, 1 week after the memory rescripting session, patients reported that their spontaneously occurring images were less vivid and distressing.

Behavior Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two experiences or options, use "less distressing" to clearly indicate which one causes a lower level of emotional or mental suffering.

Common error

Avoid using "less distressing" when describing a single situation without comparing it to another. Instead, opt for alternatives like "calming" or "comforting" to accurately convey the sentiment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less distressing" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase indicates a lower degree of emotional or mental discomfort compared to something else. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it is frequently used to describe experiences, treatments, or situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

33%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less distressing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative adjective phrase, indicating a lower degree of emotional or mental discomfort. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, serving the purpose of highlighting comparative relief or reduced negative impact. When writing, ensure "less distressing" is used to compare two distinct situations and consider synonyms such as "less upsetting" or "more comforting" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less upsetting

Replaces "distressing" with a synonym emphasizing emotional disturbance.

less troubling

Substitutes "distressing" with a word highlighting concern and worry.

less anxiety-provoking

More explicitly describes the effect on anxiety levels.

more comforting

Shifts the focus to the positive aspect of providing comfort instead of reducing distress.

more reassuring

Highlights the aspect of reducing worry and instilling confidence.

easier to bear

Focuses on the manageability of a situation.

more manageable

Emphasizes the aspect of control and handling a situation effectively.

less painful

Replaces "distressing" with a term that highlights emotional suffering and is generally associated with physical suffering.

more soothing

Highlights the calming and relaxing effect.

more palliative

Emphasizes providing relief but not necessarily curing the cause.

FAQs

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

Use "less distressing" to compare two situations or options, indicating which causes less emotional or mental discomfort. For example, "The new treatment plan is "less distressing" for patients than the previous one."

What are some alternatives to saying "less distressing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "less upsetting", "more comforting", or "easier to bear".

Is it correct to say "least distressing" instead of "less distressing"?

"Least distressing" is appropriate when comparing three or more options to identify the one causing the minimum amount of distress. "Less distressing" is used for comparing only two options.

What's the difference between "less distressing" and "not distressing"?

"Less distressing" implies a lower degree of distress compared to something else. "Not distressing" indicates an absence of distress altogether.