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

And there’s a lot going on that is unsettling. —Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

Then the studio’s marketing department built on the buzz through cryptic billboards across Los Angeles and New York, featuring Nikki’s increasingly unsettling and obsessive texts, voice notes and deliveries, alongside a phone number inviting them to reach out. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 May 2026

Despite the profound impact these unsettling interactions had on her well-being, Panettiere chose to keep their names anonymous. —Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026

Cinematographer Paul Guilhaume drenches the film in dark blues and grainy blacks, as deeply unsettling as Cristina’s canvases. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsettling

• settling
• resettling