unsettling

adjective un·set·tling \ ˌən-ˈset-liŋ , -ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Examples: unsettling in a Sentence

Definition of unsettling

: having the effect of upsetting, disturbing, or discomposing

unsettling images of the war

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unsettlingly

play \ˌən-ˈset-liŋ-lē, -ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ-\ adverb

See unsettling defined for English-language learners

Examples of unsettling in a Sentence

unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region
had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father

Recent Examples of unsettling from the Web

The deep, violent rumbling emanating from within the volcano was especially unsettling after the general absence of sound the previous few days.

— howie kahn, Smithsonian, "These Volcanic, Italian Islands Have Been Beloved by Travelers Since Homeric Times," 11 July 2018
There was a hasty phone call, a long drive into the night and an emotional reunion with Eddy Galland, Mr. Domnitz’s friend and Mr. Shafran’s unsettling double.

— New York Times, "Review: The Surreal, Heartbreaking Case of ‘Three Identical Strangers’," 27 June 2018
This is really unsettling, because this is not just any Senate staffer.

— Fox News, "Odd-man out? President Trump talks trade, tariffs at the G7 summit," 9 June 2018
Impossible Foods has imitated the true-blue look, smell, taste and texture of a ground-beef patty in a way that is almost unsettling in the uncanny-valley sense.

— alison roman, WSJ, "Plant-Based ‘Meat’ and ‘Fish’ May Be the Future. But How Do They Taste?," 12 Apr. 2018
The real Millard admits that seeing his past come to life during the film's production was sometimes very unsettling.

— deborah evans price, Billboard, "MercyMe's Bart Millard on the 'Therapeutic' Process of 'I Can Only Imagine' Becoming a Movie," 16 Mar. 2018
To have the lowest-scoring team in the majors rally for five runs in the seventh inning after doing virtually nothing all day was unsettling enough.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wow, when's the last time you saw an opponent get to Josh Hader like this?," 27 June 2018
There’s something that might feel a little unsettling about the premise that the way people respond to art can be altered based on the way it is presented, and that an art museum would, in fact, even want to do that.

— jackie mansky, Smithsonian, "The Neuroscientist in the Art Museum," 19 June 2018
The risk is unsettling to many on Wall Street, where analysts give aducanumab a roughly 50-50 shot of actually working.

— damian garde, STAT, "As Biogen turns 40, biotech worries the glory days may be over," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unsettling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.