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 of troubling

• 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

Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid summoned a staffer to repair a troubling divot, while linebacker Terrel Bernard supervised. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

From an 80-year-old cultural festival to a mystery tree poisoner at Lake Tahoe, this week brought a mix of tradition, transformation and troubling headlines across the region. — Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026

That is why the administration’s latest manoeuver is troubling. — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Critics have pointed to a troubling series of stories that have emerged nationally in recent months. — Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling