distressfulness

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

distressfulness
    n 1: the quality of arousing fear or distress; "he learned the
         seriousness of his illness" [syn: {seriousness},
         {distressfulness}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

distressfulness \distressfulness\ n.
   the quality of causing mental anguish.

   Syn: seriousness.
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

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