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
Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The manifesto also had disturbing sketches Ivers had allegedly drawn and handwritten threats to kill judges, their children and pets, the complaint said.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Some of the passages in the book were disturbing.
—Julie K Brown, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
That includes a disturbing attack in a Regal Cinema parking lot in 2022 involving a man who says he was attacked at random by the same suspect who was brandishing a machete.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
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.
Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The manifesto also had disturbing sketches Ivers had allegedly drawn and handwritten threats to kill judges, their children and pets, the complaint said.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Some of the passages in the book were disturbing.
—Julie K Brown, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
That includes a disturbing attack in a Regal Cinema parking lot in 2022 involving a man who says he was attacked at random by the same suspect who was brandishing a machete.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 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 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share