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.

Since the 1920s were a time of unsettling social change, his call to a return to traditional values resonated with many Americans.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2026

"Some of this year's report makes for unsettling reading, but it is an especially unsettled time both for the news media sector and for the world at large," Egan wrote.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

The “expectation gap,” as it is known, can be unsettling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Limbo doesn’t have a ZIP code, but it’s an awfully unsettling place to live.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

It's an unsettling conundrum, and I don’t like it one bit.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

unsettling

Example Sentences

Related Words