as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment
a disconcerting habit of chewing with his mouth open
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in confusing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
we were disconcerted by the unexpected changes to the program
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of disconcerting
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
About 20 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Mooresville residents report finding dirty water filters turning a disconcerting brown.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
That alone would be disconcerting, but that the line (dubbed the Petrova Line, after the scientist who discovered it) seems to be linked to a new, gradual dimming of the sun?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2026
The only disconcerting note for reigning champion Bayern was the withdrawal at halftime of Manuel Neuer.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
None of the emails unearthed so far appear to indicate criminal activity, but are—like the photos—disconcerting.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 31 Jan. 2026
Here, the opening sentence is disconcerting because the speaker is coming back to a physical space, but is returning from an absence, which is not a physical space.
—Akhil Sharma, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
Fitting a narrow criteria There’s a more disconcerting reason why so few applied — DeSantis’ exceedingly narrow preference for right-wing soulmates and fellow members of the Federalist Society.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Stray Hairs Stray hairs lingering in the tub drain, on the floor, or in the sink can be quite disconcerting.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 19 Jan. 2026
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
The news is disconcerting for nearby residents like Moody.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for the rival Auburn Tigers ahead of Saturday’s Iron Bowl, the team received a bit of disconcerting news.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The code, though, is currently often replete with disconcerting troubles.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This detail, at once tragic and comic, painfully human and stupidly bureaucratic, captures something essential about Schattenfroh, an extremely dark novel about the horrors of modern European history laced with the delirious, disconcerting humor of a Hieronymus Bosch painting.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The young actor has a disconcerting awareness of the roiling potential of his changing body.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Even without Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s size remains disconcerting to the Nuggets, especially when Aaron Gordon is out.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
And disconcerting moments are in the show, such as the larger-than-life black widow spiders that dangle from the ceiling.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
There are plenty of inconveniences frequent air travelers have become accustomed to, from long security lines to shrinking overhead storage bins, but few are as disconcerting as heavy turbulence in flight.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
About 20 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Mooresville residents report finding dirty water filters turning a disconcerting brown.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
That alone would be disconcerting, but that the line (dubbed the Petrova Line, after the scientist who discovered it) seems to be linked to a new, gradual dimming of the sun?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2026
The only disconcerting note for reigning champion Bayern was the withdrawal at halftime of Manuel Neuer.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
None of the emails unearthed so far appear to indicate criminal activity, but are—like the photos—disconcerting.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 31 Jan. 2026
Here, the opening sentence is disconcerting because the speaker is coming back to a physical space, but is returning from an absence, which is not a physical space.
—Akhil Sharma, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
Fitting a narrow criteria There’s a more disconcerting reason why so few applied — DeSantis’ exceedingly narrow preference for right-wing soulmates and fellow members of the Federalist Society.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Stray Hairs Stray hairs lingering in the tub drain, on the floor, or in the sink can be quite disconcerting.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
There’s a lot of disconcerting news about AI in journalism lately.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
The news is disconcerting for nearby residents like Moody.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for the rival Auburn Tigers ahead of Saturday’s Iron Bowl, the team received a bit of disconcerting news.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The code, though, is currently often replete with disconcerting troubles.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This detail, at once tragic and comic, painfully human and stupidly bureaucratic, captures something essential about Schattenfroh, an extremely dark novel about the horrors of modern European history laced with the delirious, disconcerting humor of a Hieronymus Bosch painting.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The young actor has a disconcerting awareness of the roiling potential of his changing body.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Even without Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s size remains disconcerting to the Nuggets, especially when Aaron Gordon is out.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
And disconcerting moments are in the show, such as the larger-than-life black widow spiders that dangle from the ceiling.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disconcerting
Adjective
-
Fantasia, released in 1940, was an embarrassing flop, made financially disastrous by the fact that Walt insisted that the film could only be shown with Fantasound, a particularly expensive sound system, which made for fewer and more expensive screenings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Superpowers rarely inflict such swift and straightforwardly embarrassing injury to themselves.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Colbert said, as images of the president sitting and looking uncomfortable appeared onscreen.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The legal grey area has apparently even made Frontex, the EU border control agency, uncomfortable.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fermin, who has taken mask-rattling shots fairly frequently this season, was joking and talking with teammates after the game.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Saber rattling between the US and Cuba has reached a fever pitch following a US military operation in Caracas in January that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a staunch ally of the Cuban government.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The few who described speaking with her told me that their interactions had been very brief—just a short, awkward hello.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Communication can be blunt and awkward.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Little green men are disturbing Kacey Musgraves’ golden hour.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The host of a popular paranormal podcast begins to be haunted by disturbing recordings sent to her anonymously.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Along the way there are medical emergencies, a drug trip, a private jet to a private Hot Chip concert somewhere mountainous and snowy, some unpleasant business with a dog, heartfelt conversations and existential crises.—
Robert Lloyd,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The spandex-blend material is ultra-stretchy, and there’s no unpleasant digging or pinching courtesy of the zipper- and button-free design.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Putting in the new chip was more difficult.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The rest will be more difficult.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disconcerting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disconcerting. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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