unsettling

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

Synonyms of unsettling

• disturbing
• troubling
• frightening

Examples of unsettling in a Sentence

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

There is something quietly unsettling about a shot that’s held for a long period of time, or that’s wide enough to include plenty of areas where a creature can hide. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026

Kurt's key takeaways The unsettling part of this FBI warning is how normal the attack looks. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026

My experience is more basic and possibly more unsettling. —Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Years in the darkness Trading the tropical sun and heat for the darkness and dampness underground is unsettling, and a visit to Vịnh Mốc offers a brief glimpse of the claustrophobic conditions. —Pavlo Fedykovych, CNN Money, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsettling

• settling
• resettling