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

While many voters expressed overwhelm with the number of propositions on this year’s ballot, others said the judicial retention races were even more troubling. — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026

That message came from school after school site, where polls were open and politicians and volunteers shared greetings, and while the federal election monitors were said to be calm and polite, their presence was called troubling. — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026

More troubling is the environmental toll on the Thatcher Woods Forest Preserve. — Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Opponents see something considerably more troubling, namely politicians asking voters to weaken constitutional protections against partisan manipulation for the express purpose of partisanship. — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling