disturbing

adjective

dis·​turb·​ing di-ˈstər-biŋ How to pronounce disturbing (audio)
: causing feelings of worry, concern, or anxiety
disturbing news
a disturbing discovery
The next phase in which I had a part was even more disturbing, and infinitely more painful.Bram Stoker
disturbingly adverb
disturbingly high levels of pollution
a disturbingly familiar problem
… the texture of ordinary life and talk has taken on a disturbingly ambiguous quality … Jonathan Raban

Examples of disturbing in a Sentence

a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s something disturbing about these proscriptions, which is why both Kalmey and Miola identify them as critical. JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025 After combining the two, Barr gives the mask eyes similar to Labubu's and the doll's iconic teeth, creating a truly disturbing look. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 Vivian is the tasked with surviving the gaze of the Spotlight, solving puzzles, finding Amy, and uncovering the disturbing truth behind a decades-old tragedy. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025 This lockdown is insane & disturbing with what happened during our investigation. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disturbing

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disturbing was in 1594

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Cite this Entry

“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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