ˌən-ˈset-liŋ
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsettling
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
In the midst of that bizarre and unsettling year, Charley and Rick were voices of normalcy.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Human remains discovered along remote roads in Monterey County over the past month have triggered multiple investigations, unsettling residents and leaving authorities with more questions than answers.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Adjective
Ariel and Sam have created something intimate, unsettling and darkly funny in the best way.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
In the midst of that bizarre and unsettling year, Charley and Rick were voices of normalcy.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
At the same time, a vibrant woman enters his father’s life, unsettling the fragile balance between father and son.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Human remains discovered along remote roads in Monterey County over the past month have triggered multiple investigations, unsettling residents and leaving authorities with more questions than answers.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettling
Adjective
-
The story centers on a young couple (Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny) whose lives become entangled with their volatile boss and his wife (Isaac and Carey Mulligan) after witnessing a disturbing incident at an elite country club.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
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Before the footage was shown, as PEOPLE previously reported, Judge George Gallagher warned those in the courtroom that the material would be disturbing.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This kind of bare-knuckle politics might explain why so many other GOP leaders are uneasy.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The entire record is a Trojan horse—a clear vision of white womanhood that hides a whole lot of churning, uneasy feelings.—
Shaad D’Souza,
Pitchfork,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Midway through my massage, the boat unmoored itself and set sail—setting off an initially alarming vibrating bed and whirring engine noise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Their meteoric rise in just the last year is deeply troubling, and state Attorney General Nick Brown is right to have filed a recent lawsuit to stop Kalshi, one of the largest markets, from operating in Washington state.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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The row has raised yet more troubling questions about decision-making in the EU, which can often be held hostage to national interests when unanimous votes are required.—
Karel Janicek,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Harbaugh seemed tense during his Friday press conference sitting next to GM Joe Schoen as the second round of the draft rolled on compared to a much more positive Thursday interview after the first round.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Bodycam audio shows tense standoff in moving SUV For two-and-a-half tense minutes, the officer remained an unwilling passenger in the fleeing suspect's SUV, repeatedly commanding him to stop the car.—
Brian Day,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps his most notable friendship is with loyal longtime bodyguard Bill Bray (Keilyn Durrel Jones) and, to a lesser extent, his savvy manager John Branca (Miles Teller in a distracting wig).—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
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Punk was taking off the tape from his hands and threw it onto the ring, distracting the referee enough to hit Reigns with a low blow.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Forget about sonic or other frightening devices.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The president and his Cabinet members are giving conflicting statements about the impact of the war on gas prices as Americans grow more anxious about the economic toll that the conflict is taking.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
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This is the move that helps the shyest, most introverted, most socially anxious people relax.—
Henna Pryor,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettling. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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