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

The portrait was unsettling, a little too familiar.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

However, it has been postponed until 2028 and, with conflict in the Middle East further unsettling investors and logistics, looks increasingly unlikely to transpire.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

Left unanswered is perhaps this question’s most unsettling implication: that we may not be able to know anybody at all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

We don’t need an unsettling soundtrack to know that bad things happen here, but Tom sees nothing but potential.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

I am not used to things that are expected being unsettling.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

unsettling

Example Sentences

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