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

• 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

The Rebels have rebounded since, however, and were a last-minute touchdown away from upsetting unbeaten Arvada West last week for their fourth straight win. —Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025

This was, of course, upsetting. —Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025

Beware of amendment subjects that could be very upsetting to some members. —Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025

What often brings spouses of gamblers into counseling — with or without their partner — is a big, upsetting shock. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025

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