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

troublingly adverb

Synonyms

• disturbing
• unsettling
• frightening

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

There were quite a few troubling snaps to Young, and that’s a tough look for a pair that have worked together at their positions in each of the past two summer. —Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025

Even more troubling, visiting attorneys were completely exempted from pat-downs, metal detectors, or drug screenings. —Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Pulse Picks Fresh off the presses this morning is a troubling story from The Athletic’s investigative team on the Detroit Tigers and their turbulent run of alleged misconduct toward women. —Chris Branch, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

Yet when Charlotte is measured against the rest of the country, the picture is far more troubling. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling