jarring

adjective

jar·​ring ˈjär-iŋ How to pronounce jarring (audio)
: having a harshly concussive, disagreeable, or discordant effect
a jarring tackle
It is not hard to imagine how the wounded will fare in a long jarring ride over rough roads …William Baxter
After watching the British reports, I found the American ones jarring.Michael Massing
There is not a single jarring note from the minute you enter this turn-of-the-century palazzo, lovingly restored to its glory days …Kati Marton
jarringly adverb
jarringly harsh language
a jarringly hard hit
… an aroma that I found jarringly distracting … Randal Caparoso
The book is his angry, raunchy, opinionated, sometimes moving, jarringly frank autobiography … Brad Darrach

Examples of jarring in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Shuttling back and forth between the two is more jarring than illuminating. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 The volume, even by the standards of Guitar Center’s usual cacophony, was jarring. Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2024 That is why, to many, the unrest has been so jarring. John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 Marsden says the lack of attention to this critical issue is jarring. Keyaira Boone, Essence, 8 Feb. 2024 The scene is grippingly performed by Lynch and Ben-Adir, but its revelations are jarring because of inadequate setup. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024 That’s why the absence of Peso Pluma – a catalyst for the revival of an entire musical genre that has impacted the charts and American consciousness, and whose music is downright dazzling — in the general categories was so jarring. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 7 Feb. 2024 Many young people in the country fear internal family strife is especially intense because the jarring speed of economic development created a massive generation gap. Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 This reduces the feeling of personalization and may be jarring for users. Vivek Ahuja, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jarring.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jarring was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near jarring

Cite this Entry

“Jarring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jarring. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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