unsettling

ADJECTIVE

disturbing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alarming creepy depressing disconcerting discouraging disquieting distressing frightening ominous painful perplexing startling troubling unpleasant worrisome worrying

STRONG

aggravating agitating annoying discommoding discomposing dismaying embarrassing foreboding harassing impeding irritating perturbing provoking threatening trying upsetting vexing

WEAK

bothersome burdensome consequential difficult disagreeable discomforting disruptive distressful gloomy hard inconvenient intrusive irksome laborious onerous pessimistic prophetic severe sinister tiresome toilsome troublesome troublous uncertain wearisome

Antonyms

STRONGEST

auspicious comforting delightful encouraging good happy pleasant pleasing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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unsettling

Friday’s agreement with the state attorneys general to delay the merger’s close until after an antitrust trial, which will likely be held in 2027, also was unsettling to shareholders and some employees.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

Dark tourism research reveals that people are drawn to places associated with death, disaster, tragedy and the uncanny, whether former prisons, abandoned sites, or locations connected to unsettling historical events.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

Unions have strongly criticised VW and Blume for unsettling employees by allowing media reports of mass job cuts to circulate without comment, demanding the CEO take a public stand.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

His parents added: "These last two weeks have been a very uncertain and unsettling time."

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

It was in some ways unsettling, but compelling as well.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

unsettling

Example Sentences

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