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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsettling
Victoria Bousis, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
That unsettling reality was on display just last week at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
But things are about to go from bad to nightmare, as a group of armed robbers wearing unsettling facial prosthetics descend upon Lochmill.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Adjective
The unsettling part is not Moltbook’s existence.
—Victoria Bousis, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
That unsettling reality was on display just last week at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
While a complete withdrawal from the GNU may be unlikely, the resurgence of internal debate alone risks unsettling a government whose stability rests, in part, on the DA’s role as a moderating force.
—Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
But things are about to go from bad to nightmare, as a group of armed robbers wearing unsettling facial prosthetics descend upon Lochmill.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettling
Adjective
-
Though intensely disturbing, a scene where a TV shows a distorted iteration of a character that Ohm watched as a kid rings out of place, even if the context involves his mother’s tragic passing.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
If true, this is obviously disturbing.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Many travelers feel 'uneasy' about going abroad.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The United States and Israel’s widening war with Iran has stricken an already uneasy global economy with a new bout of uncertainty.—
Mirtha Donastorg,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Recently, something new appeared on the landscape, alarming wildlife advocates like Christina Aiello.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And just over two months into this calendar year, at least 11 people have died in ICE detention – a trend that’s sparked concern from those who track these numbers and see them as a troubling indicator of widespread problems in the detention system.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
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Coming off the muddled, troubling end to the regular season, with two of their best wins, and their two worst losses within the last handful of games, the UConn men needed a play to start the healing process.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The atmosphere in El Portal Village Hall was tense during the 2 1/2-hour meeting that took place days after the demolition.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The World Baseball Classic rolls on, and Team USA lives to see another day after a tense first few innings spent watching Team Italy and Mexico on Wednesday.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Also, higher oil prices mean more income for Russia, and the war in Iran is distracting the world from Putin’s war in Ukraine.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
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Additional creature comforts also can be nice but distracting.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And for Slusser, born and raised as a Christian in Texas, just a year and a half living in Northern California had taken a frightening toll.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Protests that kind of were merging toward violence or at least frightening to our diplomats.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The film is at its best building tension and showing us just how anxious life is under dictatorial rule.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The anxious impatience of being en route has permeated cootie catcher’s music since their earliest releases in 2021.—
Jude Noel,
Pitchfork,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettling. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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