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

Hartnett’s work is dynamic and unsettling, making what could be a forgettable tertiary character into an integral part of the story that viewers hold in the back of their minds, even when he’s offscreen.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

There are so many scary diseases out there that I had to wonder: Is there something about plague that is particularly unsettling?

From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026

The film takes its time in unfolding its mysteries, yet it charts every moment with an unsettling psychological realism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

"I find it unsettling that an untransparent algorithm should decide a club's future."

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

The quiet was unsettling, but Ekon didn’t think about that either.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

unsettling

Example Sentences

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Related Words