| PLIGHT | Difficult or distressing situation (6) |
| SOFTENTHEBLOW | Alleviate a distressing situation (6,3,4) |
| TRIALS | Distressing situations |
| EMERGENCIES | Unexpected and distressing situations (11) |
| TRAGIC | Extremely sad or distressing (6) |
| ORDEAL | Trying or distressing experience (6) |
| LABOUR | Difficult or arduous work or effort (6) |
| KNOTTY | Difficult or intricate (6) |
| SCHLEP | A difficult or tedious journey (6) |
| THORNY | Difficult or unpleasant (6) |
| TRICKY | Difficult or ticklish to deal with (6) |
| TRYING | Upsetting, difficult, or annoying (6) |
| ACOWOF | Something difficult or unpleasant: . ... .. a (day, job, etc) (1,3,2) |
| FRIGHTFUL | Very alarming or distressing (9) |
| TRAUMATIC | Deeply disturbing or distressing (9) |
| NEUROSIS | A psychological disorder in which there is disabling or distressing anxiety (8) |
| STICKYWICKET | Difficult or awkward situation (6,6) |
| HAIRY | Word meaning bearded, crinigerous, furry, hirsute, shaggy or woolly; having a rough feel, as in tweed; or, dicey, difficult or fraught with danger (5) |
| GUMTREE | Difficult or sticky situation encountered up here? |
| STUNT | Difficult or unusual or dangerous feat (5) |
