troubling

adjective

trou·​bling ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce troubling (audio)
Synonyms of troublingnext
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Across the country, health leaders and policymakers are searching for solutions to rising health care costs, plus troubling rates of chronic disease and a mental health crisis among young people. Jessica Turner, USA Today, 1 June 2026 At the Fortune Global Forum in 2023, entrepreneur Parag Khanna argued that the current ratio — roughly 95% of climate effort going to mitigation and only 5% to adaptation — is not just inefficient but ethically troubling. Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 The findings are troubling because low financial literacy is linked with worse outcomes, such as carrying higher levels of debt, Surya Kolluri, the head of TIAA Institute, told CBS News. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 1 June 2026 A bit under six months out from the 2026 elections, trucking prices suggest a troubling economic picture for Republicans. Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for troubling

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of troubling was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Troubling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troubling. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

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