troubling

adjective

trou·​bling ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ 

: causing feelings of worry or anxiety

a troubling news report

It's not just trauma survivors who may be distracted or derailed by shocking or troubling material …

—Angus Johnston

troublingly adverb

Synonyms of troubling

• disturbing
• unsettling
• frightening

Examples of troubling in a Sentence

the most troubling sign of all is that he's stopped returning my phone calls

Recent Examples on the Web

This year’s line-hardening—by my count, some twenty-three per cent of cases—is both remarkable and troubling. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

Another troubling sign flagged by the bureau was that hiring in the health care sector slowed to just 22,000 jobs. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 2 July 2026

Theoretically, that should be positive for equities, yet what's troubling investors is the prospect of a rate hike at the end of the year. — Liz Napolitano,hugh Leask,lee Ying Shan,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 June 2026

The level of their performances in the group phase shows promise to go further, with wingers Yan Diomande and Amad capable of troubling any defence. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling