"distressing (or disturbing) news""lived in heroic if something distressful isolation""a disturbing amount of crime""a revelation that was most perturbing""a new and troubling thought""in a particularly worrisome predicament""a worrying situation""a worrying time"
2. bad; unfortunate;
"my finances were in a deplorable state""a lamentable decision""her clothes were in sad shape""a sorry state of affairs"