unsettling

adjective

un·​set·​tling
ˌən-ˈset-liŋ
-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce unsettling (audio)
Synonyms of unsettlingnext
: having the effect of upsetting, disturbing, or discomposing
unsettling images of the war
unsettlingly
ˌən-ˈset-liŋ-lē
-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ- How to pronounce unsettling (audio)
adverb

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 on the Web
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.
But Duvall works on a different frequency, making the corporate machinery of the network feel even more unsettling than the chaos on camera. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026 Neutral expressions can be unsettling to people who expect emotional reassurance. Angela Haupt, Time, 13 Feb. 2026 But Queen at Sea quickly reveals itself to be stranger and more unsettling than its surface suggests. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026 Still, there’s an unsettling calm, an attunement to the fragile truce between humankind and the capricious planet that nourishes it. Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettling

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsettling was in 1665

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettling. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on unsettling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster