unsettling 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈset-liŋ
Definition of unsettlingnext
1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region

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2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father

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unsettling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of unsettle
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers

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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 unsettling
Adjective
Then there was the task of making sets like the Bowden family home both homey and unsettling. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 10 July 2026 And while their appearance can be unsettling, earwigs are generally harmless to humans and pets. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2026
Verb
The over 13-minute uncut interview shows the rapper thoroughly unsettling Colbert, in an improvised rap about, among other things, a romantic relationship between the pair of them. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 May 2026 But as dubious therapies and unsettling postcolonial rituals blur the line between wellness and manipulation, Alexa begins uncovering the disturbing forces hidden beneath the retreat’s seductive façade. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettling
  1. disturbing
  2. uneasy
  3. alarming
  4. troubling
  5. tense
  6. distracting
  7. frightening
  8. anxious
Adjective
  • The film follows a man trapped inside a bar, where reality begins to unravel in increasingly disturbing ways.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
  • At a time when politics is so absurd and disturbing, maybe political comedy is less funny.
    — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • But as mainstream coverage of looksmaxxing continues and people like Clavicular are platformed by the fashion establishment, professionals across the beauty ecosystem are still uneasy.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
  • Politics and sport have always been uneasy bedfellows, but until recently referees and other sport officials have rarely been dragged into the public discourse.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Verb
  • In Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County maintains infectious-disease surveillance and disease-reporting services for residents and visitors, which is exactly how local systems stay ready without alarming the public.
    — Luis E. Caso Vega, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
    — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of alarming
Adjective
  • Typically, doctors are advised to discuss testosterone therapy with men who have troubling symptoms and documented low levels of the hormone on two separate blood tests.
    — Konstantin Toropin, Fortune, 15 July 2026
  • What’s especially troubling now is how fast margin debt has grown relative to S & P 500 returns.
    — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of troubling
Adjective
  • From Newt's family making first contact with a Facehugger to a wonderfully tense sentry gun sequence, Cameron's extra footage enhances a classic.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026
  • In years when the contract is due to be renewed, the waiting period can get tense as fears that the convention will leave San Diego often surface when organizers demand new concessions from hoteliers and the city.
    — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026
Definition of tense
Verb
  • The previous time the New York Knicks won an NBA Final, in 1973, in-game sound was basically unheard-of in basketball—too distracting for players and fans.
    — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • Low-cost drones are also increasingly being paired with high-end weapons to improve their effectiveness by distracting or overwhelming enemy air defenses.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of distracting
Adjective
  • Obviously there’s day to day stuff but to me, that’s just another frightening thing about being trapped in a system.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Cortlandt Koerwitz/Instagram A family's Fourth of July outing took a frightening turn when a bear charged at a father outside his Lake Tahoe vacation home after startling his daughters.
    — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • Meditation, deep breathing, physical exercise or something as simple as doing laundry can interrupt the cycle of anxious searching.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 19 July 2026
  • Students are less anxious about money, less overwhelmed; their physical and mental health has improved.
    — Jay A. Perman, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026
Definition of anxious

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Cite this Entry

“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettling. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unsettling

Nglish: Translation of unsettling for Spanish Speakers

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