upsetting 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)əp-ˈse-tiŋ How to pronounce upsetting (audio)
Definition of upsettingnext
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

upsetting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of upset
1
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed

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2
as in overturning
to turn on one's side or upside down the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care

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3
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine

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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 upsetting
Adjective
Our studies point to several possible reasons for why false beliefs feel so upsetting. — Andras Molnar, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 However, when considering veering from the tradition, recognize that your choice may draw attention away from the purpose of the day or be upsetting to others from older generations. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
Cal Poly opened the year by upsetting Big West conference favorite UC Santa Barbara, positioning the men’s team for its first undefeated dual-meet season since moving to Division I in 1994. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 Similar concerns have come up related to progressive populists’ potential for upsetting Democratic establishment candidates and incumbents in primaries in Connecticut, Hawaii and Missouri. — David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for upsetting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upsetting
  1. disturbing
  2. alarming
  3. overturning
  4. disrupting
  5. unsettling
  6. distracting
  7. capsizing
  8. confusing
Adjective
  • The project follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • You might be surprised by just how disturbing The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains more than 50 years later.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • OpenAI’s use of a new technique that obscures AI agents’ chain of thought is alarming the research community.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The development proved alarming enough that OpenAI vowed last week to slow the release of its upcoming Astra AI model.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • The majority, once again overturning the conclusions of the lower courts, said that a challenge by some two dozen states was premature and that the states lacked standing because they weren’t harmed by the order.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But a few months later, with McCurdy’s help, the organization had its first success overturning a state ban.
    — Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of overturning
Verb
  • And an unprecedented immigration crackdown is disrupting the labor supply in agriculture, construction, hospitality and food processing, raising prices even further.
    — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano erupted early Sunday, prompting flight cancellations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and disrupting flights at other airports.
    — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Adjective
  • The tiny farming settlement of Poilley, in Brittany, would become her home for the next eight years, and the subject of more than 50,000 intimate, often unsettling photographs.
    — Felix Bazalgette, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • And an overture from an ABC exec (Jessica Hecht) to Andie to jump ship represents another kind of unsettling grooming.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Verb
  • Some found the logo distracting, but Google Search interest in YouTube TV more than doubled.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Naturepedic data shows just how distracting the mental load can be.
    — Parents, Parents, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of distracting
Verb
  • Prosecutors said Hernandez piloted the boat into a swell and had accelerated the throttle to try to pass through it until the swell swamped the bow of the boat, capsizing it immediately, a complaint alleged.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • According to court documents, Manuel Hernandez, the tour boat captain, made a U-turn and a swell swamped the bow, capsizing the boat with 14 people on board.
    — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of capsizing
Verb
  • Dirty glass, confusing backing liners and difficulty repositioning the film were among the most common frustrations.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Then began the desperate, confusing search for their colleagues.
    — Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of confusing

Browse Nearby Words

upsets
upsetting
upshot
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Cite this Entry

“Upsetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsetting. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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