disturbing

[dih-stur-bing] / dɪˈstɜr bɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

disquieting

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alarming annoying bothersome creepy depressing disconcerting discouraging distressing embarrassing frightening irritating ominous painful perplexing sinister startling threatening troublesome troubling unpleasant unsettling upsetting vexing worrisome worrying

STRONG

aggravating agitating discommoding discomposing dismaying foreboding harassing impeding perturbing provoking trying

WEAK

burdensome consequential difficult disagreeable discomforting gloomy hard inconvenient irksome laborious onerous pessimistic prophetic severe tiresome toilsome uncertain wearisome

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable auspicious comforting delightful easy encouraging good happy helpful nice 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.

This group has so far never met a decline not worth buying, or difficult market conditions without a silver lining, which raises a disturbing question: What horror must occur to scare them?

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

A surge in software stocks helped indexes open the week with gains Monday despite disturbing Iran-related news from the weekend, including the collapse of peace negotiations in Pakistan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

CTA President David Goldberg called the allegations “incredibly disturbing and unacceptable.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

But the messages became a lot more disturbing.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

By that point, there had been several disturbing twists in the case.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

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