disturbing
adjective
dis·turb·ing
di-ˈstər-biŋ 
: causing feelings of worry, concern, or anxiety
disturbing news
a disturbing discovery
The next phase in which I had a part was even more disturbing, and infinitely more painful.—
Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
disturbingly
adverb
disturbingly high levels of pollution
a disturbingly familiar problem
… the texture of ordinary life and talk has taken on a disturbingly ambiguous quality …
—Jonathan Raban
Jonathan Raban
Examples of disturbing in a Sentence
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name
a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption
a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery
Recent Examples on the Web
The allegations against this individual are disturbing and completely contrary to the values and mission of this department.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Here's everything to know about Ed Gein's house — and the disturbing items police found inside it.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
There, in addition to Worden's body, officers found, among other disturbing things, multiple human skulls, a tom tom made of a cover with human skin, and leather made from human skin that had been used to upholster furniture and craft lampshades and belts.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
The goal of these books is not to portray a dark future that could happen but rather to amplify and focus on specific disturbing aspects of our society in a white box setting.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
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Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Here's everything to know about Ed Gein's house — and the disturbing items police found inside it.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
There, in addition to Worden's body, officers found, among other disturbing things, multiple human skulls, a tom tom made of a cover with human skin, and leather made from human skin that had been used to upholster furniture and craft lampshades and belts.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
The goal of these books is not to portray a dark future that could happen but rather to amplify and focus on specific disturbing aspects of our society in a white box setting.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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