DISCONCERTING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

disconcerting 1 of 2

adjective

as in embarrassing

causing embarrassment a disconcerting habit of chewing with his mouth open

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disconcerting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of disconcert

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disconcerting

Adjective

There was a brief, disconcerting interlude of quiet from the Argentina fans after that. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 The traditional avenue for dealing with this disconcerting situation would be to hire specialist counselors trained as therapists and psychologists and station them at the schools for ready access by students. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 In the finale, Matthew’s scenes with K Callan, who plays Ruth, are really disconcerting. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026 Bari Weiss directed the housecleaning at the newsmagazine last week, and Nick Bilton signed the letter telling Scott Pelley he was fired on Tuesday night, but the Paramount CEO owns the decisions and the disconcerting fallout. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 June 2026 The abruptness is disconcerting but can be overcome by learning the pedal’s nuances. — James Raia, Mercury News, 1 May 2026 That is really, really, really disconcerting. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Other content, however, could be so disconcerting that it is assumed never to produce meaningful debate, and news outlets (and other platforms) need to make difficult decisions on how to identify and remove such content. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026 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

Verb

This imbalance is perhaps not expressly disconcerting much of the time. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 There was also some disconcerting history to consider. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disconcerting

Adjective

That was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a collective moment in England and, instead, his decisions led to an embarrassing surrender that will linger in minds for decades.

— The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 16 July 2026
The Sacramento Kings turned in an embarrassing performance in the NBA Summer League on Tuesday.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Verb

Indeed, the movie opens with Ed quizzing an older Greek man he’s befriended on the Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester, before berating him for confusing his Bottega Veneta loafers for Sebago.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Disenfranchising or, at best, confusing their voters risks their own electoral success, too.

— SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Definition of confusing

Adjective

Then, in his most recent outing against the Angels, Skubal dominated for seven shutout innings, a forceful reminder of the ability that led him to this uncomfortable precipice.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Abi Adamson, author of Culture Blooming (the Substack and book) starts somewhere more uncomfortable.

— Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of uncomfortable

Adjective

And having everyone try to speak in English with Greek accents (not that the Greeks 2700 years ago would have sounded like Greeks do today) would have been awkward.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
If the process had advanced to a hearing, the Blues would have been put in the awkward position of having to build a case against him.

— Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of awkward

Verb

Plus, Bluetooth headphone pairing lets students watch TV late at night without disturbing roommates.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 July 2026
Just like us, most plants suffer from heat stress that is exacerbated by disturbing their vascular system during a heat wave.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Definition of disturbing

Adjective

While some may be looking for more reasons to eat cookies, many more are simply hesitating to eat salads and other fresh produce amid a multistate outbreak of cyclospora, known for that unpleasant symptom, among others.

— Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Principal owner John Middleton recently discussed the challenging decision to dismiss longtime manager Rob Thomson, admitting that terminating employees remains the most difficult and unpleasant aspect of his executive role, even after decades.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of unpleasant

Adjective

Unlike dogs, they cannot simply be taken on longer walks, often resist dietary changes, and can be difficult to medicate consistently, making GLP-1 therapies potentially attractive if clinical trials prove successful.

— Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
Their stories recount the devastation to homes and businesses, life in temporary shelters, and the difficult process of rebuilding or relocating.

— Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

Definition of difficult

Browse Nearby Words

disconcerted

disconcerting

disconcertment

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disconcerting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disconcerting. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disconcerting

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on disconcerting

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

itinerant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes