unsettling

1 of 2

adjective

un·​set·​tling

ˌən-ˈset-liŋ, 

-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ 

: having the effect of upsetting, disturbing, or discomposing

unsettling images of the war

unsettlingly

ˌən-ˈset-liŋ-lē, 

-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ- 

adverb

unsettling

2 of 2

present participle of unsettle

Synonyms of unsettling

Adjective

• disturbing
• troubling
• frightening

Examples of unsettling in a Sentence

Adjective

unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region

had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Her dangling tongue, tuft of Troll doll-esque blond hair, and pink ribbon juxtaposed with an occasional top hat give her a quirky, sometimes unsettling charm. — Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 2026

Researchers describe the appeal as a paradox — unsettling and comforting at once. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

Archimedes is just four decades shy of the end of its 133-year journey when a number of bizarre, unsettling occurrences force the thirty thousand inhabitants to debate whether to turn around and return home. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

For neighbors who use the stretch of the greenway every day, the violence is unsettling. — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsettling

• settling
• resettling