troubling

1 of 2

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

troublingly adverb

troubling

2 of 2

present participle of trouble entry 2

Synonyms of troubling

Adjective

• disturbing
• unsettling
• frightening

Examples of troubling in a Sentence

Adjective

the most troubling sign of all is that he's stopped returning my phone calls

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Jerry Azevedo, a spokesman for the Workers’ Compensation Action Network and an expert in workers’ compensation financing, said the DIR’s practice is troubling. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Saldaña said the bill’s attempt to make CEQA legal challenges more difficult is troubling, in part, because the project site will be subject to frequent flooding. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Looking for a way to prove his value, Jackson instead discovers troubling research from the company’s own climate scientists projecting a rapid rise in global temperatures. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026

For a brief period Wednesday, the president set aside more troubling issues to revel in his role as White House redeveloper. — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling