troubling

1 of 2

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

troubling

2 of 2

present participle of trouble entry 2

Synonyms of troubling

Adjective

• disturbing
• unsettling
• frightening

Examples of troubling in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

More troubling, perhaps, is the show’s lack of pull among viewers between 25 and 54 — the demographic craved most by advertisers in news programming. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Sergeant Ashley Smith, a police officer with 16 years of experience, published a TikTok video about the troubling criminal trend. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026

Government borrowing similarly has been in the news as the national debt hit a troubling $40 trillion and counting. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Fans have noticed a troubling trend with Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker this month. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling