disturbing
adjective
dis·turb·ing
di-ˈstər-biŋ 
: 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
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
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
Carpenter says the disturbing encounters left her fearful for her safety and that of relatives living with her, as police label the suspect’s fixation irrational and increasingly dangerous.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
Abts sent an email to his superiors, and a human resources supervisor, about Husband’s disturbing, uncharacteristic behavior.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
OpenAI had previously flagged her ChatGPT conversations as having a disturbing fascination with extreme violence, and suspended her account, but reportedly the company did not notify law enforcement.
—Anat Lior, Fortune, 30 May 2026
The story not only oscillates within its multiple subplots, but dives into parts of modern society that are both fascinating and disturbing.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
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Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
Abts sent an email to his superiors, and a human resources supervisor, about Husband’s disturbing, uncharacteristic behavior.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
OpenAI had previously flagged her ChatGPT conversations as having a disturbing fascination with extreme violence, and suspended her account, but reportedly the company did not notify law enforcement.
—Anat Lior, Fortune, 30 May 2026
The story not only oscillates within its multiple subplots, but dives into parts of modern society that are both fascinating and disturbing.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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