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

The mystery comedy, loosely inspired by the 1989 film starring Tom Hanks, follows a married couple whose move into the husband's childhood home exposes unsettling secrets in their seemingly quiet suburban neighborhood. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Liminal Yellow can read as warm or slightly unsettling, WGSN says, depending on how it is styled. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

The two go on to develop a secret, unsettling friendship, then something more. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Subsequent promo materials continued to emphasize Chastain’s grotesquely elastic role, with an eye-catching outdoor ad campaign spotlighting the character’s unsettling expression and making her movie recognizable at a glance. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsettling

• settling
• resettling