jarring

1 of 2

adjective

jar·​ring ˈjär-iŋ 

: 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

jarring

2 of 2

present participle of jar entry 2

Synonyms of jarring

Adjective

• surprising
• startling
• amazing
• shocking
• stunning

Examples of jarring in a Sentence

Adjective

the jarring news that major financial institutions were on the verge of collapse

the final chord of that song is too jarring for me

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The theatrical flourish seems jarring, but so too is the historic moment. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

That’s part of why the 14-point spread in favor of Iowa is so jarring. — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

There’s another jarring contrast just a few steps behind the glassy, corporate European Parliament buildings, where the Wiertz Museum whisks you back into the 19th century. — Benjamin Moser, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2026

The interior is probably the biggest improvement without having the same visually jarring impact the exterior’s changes have. — New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1552, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jarring

• barring
• charring
• marring
• scarring
• sparring
• starring
• tarring
• debarring