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
Even then, the fact that the package contained a bloody tracksuit is still disturbing and likely to create psychological trauma for the daughter.
—Jim Halterman, Variety, 1 July 2025
Many of these videos follow a disturbing but familiar pattern—the extraction and erasure of Black women’s genius, creativity, and contributions.
—Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
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Jim Halterman, Variety, 1 July 2025
Many of these videos follow a disturbing but familiar pattern—the extraction and erasure of Black women’s genius, creativity, and contributions.
—Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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