troubling
adjective
trou·bling
ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ 
: causing feelings of worry or anxiety
a troubling news report
It's not just trauma survivors who may be distracted or derailed by shocking or troubling material …—
Angus Johnston
Angus Johnston
troublingly
adverb
Examples of troubling in a Sentence
the most troubling sign of all is that he's stopped returning my phone calls
Recent Examples on the Web
Martine turns out to have some troubling associates, who first make themselves at home in the household and then commandeer it.
—Adelle Waldman, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Despite significant advancements in medical research, a troubling disparity persists in funding allocated to women-specific medical research.
—Michelle Kaufman, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
The pandemic, of course, accelerated a troubling trend of newspaper closures over the last 20 years.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In a riveting story, published in this week’s issue, Ava Kofman unravels the mystery of Guojun and Silvia’s strange and troubling project.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for troubling
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.
Adelle Waldman, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Despite significant advancements in medical research, a troubling disparity persists in funding allocated to women-specific medical research.
—Michelle Kaufman, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
The pandemic, of course, accelerated a troubling trend of newspaper closures over the last 20 years.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In a riveting story, published in this week’s issue, Ava Kofman unravels the mystery of Guojun and Silvia’s strange and troubling project.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for troubling
Cite this Entry
“Troubling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troubling. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
