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
Relevance
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
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 troubling
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
23 June 2026
According to federal court documents, Proper first came to investigators' attention after his mother reported concerns about recent firearms purchases and troubling online communications.
—
Stepheny Price , Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Staff Author,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for troubling
Adjective
Sergeant Ashley Smith, a police officer of 16 years, published a TikTok video about the troubling criminal trend.
—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
23 June 2026
According to federal court documents, Proper first came to investigators' attention after his mother reported concerns about recent firearms purchases and troubling online communications.
—
Stepheny Price , Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Verb
But besides defiant behavior or anger issues, there are other behaviors that indicate that something deeper is troubling your teen.
—
Staff Author,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for troubling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troubling
Adjective
-
The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
-
This past Juneteenth weekend saw a spate of shooting incidents that underscored a disturbing trend.
Verb
-
There was drama, remarkable goals and worrying injury in Sweden’s showdown with Japan at AT&T Stadium Thursday in the final Group F match.
-
The president's strategy is already worrying some Democrats in swing districts, such as Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen on Long Island.
Verb
-
For couples weighing whether to book one, the research and the market are pointing in the same direction.
-
For families weighing a short certificate as a fast path to a paycheck, the field matters enormously.
Adjective
-
The New York Times reported that multiple women who once dated Platner described the Maine oysterman’s behavior as intimidating and unsettling.
-
This move, by a native of the attention economy, signals a growing trend of users actively disengaging, unsettling consumer investors.
Verb
-
That shift may help explain why some couples notice their partner’s scent bothering them more during periods of conflict.
-
The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Adjective
-
Earlier movie versions have managed the story’s most frightening moments with the limited technology available at the time—much plastic and spongy stuff; monsters in process shots looming over little men; papier-mâché boulders flung from hilltops.
-
Even more frightening, the percentage exceeded 50% in many groups, including insects, terrestrial vertebrates, and marine species.
Verb
-
Apprehensive about inconveniencing others by appointing Truss at Balmoral—a first in her 70-year reign—the monarch consulted her daughter the Princess Royal.
-
And the students liked being able to listen to the material repeatedly without inconveniencing a human reader.
Cite this Entry
“Troubling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troubling. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
