upsetting

adjective

up·​set·​ting (ˌ)əp-ˈse-tiŋ 

: mentally or emotionally troubling or disturbing : causing feelings of worry or anxiety

heard some upsetting news

an upsetting experience

We're up to [a deficit of] $1.5 trillion a year … . These numbers are truly upsetting.

—Bill Gates

Professors issue, or students demand, trigger warnings when presenting material that might be upsetting to some: depictions of rape, sexism, racism, suicide.

—Yvonne Abraham

upsettingly adverb

an upsettingly graphic depiction of violence

In comparison to male historical figures, the number of women that we learn about throughout school is upsettingly low.

—Alexis Gardner

Synonyms of upsetting

• disturbing
• unsettling
• troubling
• frightening

Examples of upsetting in a Sentence

the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother

Recent Examples on the Web

Why false beliefs make people frustrated Our studies point to several possible reasons for why false beliefs feel so upsetting. — Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

As upsetting as that might sound, Hart’s deft handling of tough material is on full display here, as is a pair of truly lovely performances from Sunny Sandler (Sophie herself) and the unimpeachable Melanie Lynskey as her mother Elizabeth. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

The release of his diaries though, revealed some thoroughly discrediting and upsetting details about Fauci's private beliefs. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Megan Koverman The news was upsetting, but Koverman was determined to stay optimistic. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 8 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upsetting

• abetting
• begetting
• besetting
• bloodletting
• briquetting
• forgetting
• offsetting
• pipetting
• regretting
• resetting
• subletting
• typesetting