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
Paris Barraza, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Circe, an archetype in Homer’s version, gets a humanizing update thanks to Samantha Morton’s unsettling yet sympathetic performance.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
This is when cycles of freezing and thawing cause the moisture in soil to expand and contract, unsettling plants' roots and potentially causing real damage.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Adjective
While the numerous tremors may be unsettling, two experts say the earthquake swarm is far from unusual for the region.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Circe, an archetype in Homer’s version, gets a humanizing update thanks to Samantha Morton’s unsettling yet sympathetic performance.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
Verb
But peace can be unsettling too, which the poem can capture.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
This is when cycles of freezing and thawing cause the moisture in soil to expand and contract, unsettling plants' roots and potentially causing real damage.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettling
Adjective
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Fetish camboy Aaron Eagle (Kieron Moore) agrees to spend the night with an anonymous client, only to discover a disturbing tie to his past.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
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In the spring of 2018, federal prosecutors arrested both Raniere and Mack (along with four other individuals) and leveled disturbing accusations against the pair.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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There, migrant labor, economic need and repressed desire collide, especially through his uneasy bond with Arvydas, a Czech co-worker whose open homophobia masks darker tensions.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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The landfill theory made some birding enthusiasts uneasy and prompted some authorities, locals and others to defend Ushuaia, a city of nearly 85,000 that draws tourists to its Antarctic cruise ships and abundant, watchworthy bird population.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Verb
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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
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In Texas, advocates for transgender rights said the settlement with Texas Children’s sets a troubling precedent.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
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The deficit is already on a troubling path this year.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The debate comes after weeks of tense exchanges and shifting poll numbers.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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In the film, Keough plays Zalya, the pregnant sister of Keoghan’s troubled character, bringing a quiet emotional weight to a tense family story set around a struggling Circassian diner in New Jersey.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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However, many within Starmer’s party say a leadership contest would be distracting for the party and disastrous for the country.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
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Schapiro, a former university president, stepped down to avoid distracting from the ceremony.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Such obsession can be a frightening emotion both for the person experiencing it and for the target.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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Even more frightening is a judge apologizing to an assassin who risked the lives of 2,000 people while attempting to assassinate the president and his cabinet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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In Louisiana, nearly 180,000 early ballots for House races already cast won’t be counted under the redrawn districts, leaving voters like Sallie Davis anxious their votes won’t be tallied.—
John Hanna,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
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Viral genetics Researchers around the globe are also anxious to get the genomic data of the ANDV virus.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettling. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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