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

• discomforting
• discomposing
• disquieting
• distressing
• disturbing
• nagging
• nasty
• perturbing
• troublesome
• troubling
• troublous
• unsettling
• worrisome

Examples of upsetting in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

After a long wait, American Jessica Pegula has broken through to reach her first grand slam semifinal, upsetting world No. 1 and five-time grand slam champion Iga Świątek 6-2, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night. —Jill Martin, CNN, 4 Sep. 2024

The obvious risk is clubs upsetting supporters in the stands. —Henry Flynn, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024

In an interview with The Times of London, the actor, who shot to fame in Doctor Who, said that flagging potentially upsetting content was dumbing down storytelling for audiences. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2024

Wang Yafan is also still alive in the U.S. Open, upsetting Victoria Azarenka on Friday to reach the round of sixteen. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above