as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
the most troubling sign of all is that he's stopped returning my phone calls
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in worrying
to experience concern or anxiety
don't trouble about me—I'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weighing
to cause discomfort to or trouble for
I hate to trouble you, but would you mind moving for a minute so I can sweep under your chair?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of troubling
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
But somewhere along the way, a troubling development occurred.
—Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
China is poised to win great swathes of the booming European EV market and that is troubling the automakers.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for troubling
Adjective
But that vote had troubling outcome for her.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
But somewhere along the way, a troubling development occurred.
—Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
Scientists may have solved a cosmic mystery that has been troubling them since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began observations back in 2022.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
China is poised to win great swathes of the booming European EV market and that is troubling the automakers.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for troubling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troubling
Adjective
-
The disturbing video is hard to watch.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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Just a day before, in a stunning, unprecedented move, ABC axed the whole thing after a disturbing video emerged of Paul from her 2023 arrest in Utah.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another issue worrying farmers in major food-producing countries like Brazil and India is that the war is also hurting the export market.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
20 Mar. 2026
-
And so it’s been just a back-and-forth process, trying to be here, the present moment, worrying about home and headlines.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mettler-Toledo, which manufactures lab instruments and weighing technology, provides school expenses as part of its expatriate and international benefits package for some senior execs.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The European Union was weighing capping natural gas prices to curb a jump in electricity costs.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In November 2022, as NASA prepared for its maiden Artemis launch, agents from its Office of Protective Services made an unsettling discovery whose details have never been previously revealed.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
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What sets Brule apart from fellow idiots in similar setups like Borat or Philomena Cunk is Reilly’s ability to present Brule with deep pathos and a sense of mystery, offering glimpses into a dark backstory, all made unsettling by the show’s analog-horror aesthetic.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jamal Murray’s right shoulder was bothering him during a 1-for-14 outing Saturday.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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Mass incarceration has led to a fast-growing bloc of citizens who either are legally barred from voting or have just stopped bothering.—
Kevin B. Smith,
The Conversation,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The findings are stark, even frightening.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
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During one frightening allergic reaction, her child’s body erupts in hives and her breathing becomes labored, sending the family rushing to emergency care.—
Rhoda Feng,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the students liked being able to listen to the material repeatedly without inconveniencing a human reader.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
6 Jan. 2026
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No one forced them to expand to the West Coast, inconveniencing coaches, players and fans of 14 other schools.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Troubling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troubling. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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