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.

Pickering: The unsettling piece for the folks in the industry is that we may have high enough prices that they make a lot of money, but they could have a real demand problem.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

The four-star review added that it is "both an easy and a deeply unsettling watch".

From BBC • May 13, 2026

It started with a scary earthquake near Reno, then more unsettling shaking near Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

This unsettling idea is what defines the Boltzmann brain hypothesis.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2026

More unsettling than the wreckage was the fact that the workshop was deserted.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

unsettling

Example Sentences

Related Words