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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
And while the Lions try to fill the void on their roster, Arnold is in danger of joining a different and very upsetting list of NFL players. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Have any of you guys been haunted by the frankly upsetting scene in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in which Circe cooks what can only be described as a very messed up stew? — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
Verb
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 Led by Haaland, a standout striker, and Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard, the Norwegian team has captured the world’s attention after upsetting five-time champion Brazil in the Round of 16. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 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
  • But no one can ignore the reality that New York has experienced a disturbing rise in antisemitic attacks.
    — Simcha Itzkowitz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • For people who live just steps from the home where the gun violence erupted, the incident was both disturbing and unsettling.
    — Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbing
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
Verb
  • An overnight police chase in Miramar ended with a black SUV overturning into a Tesla dealership parking lot, injuring one and hospitalizing another, authorities say.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Colorado State Patrol The Kenworth collided with the left side of the International trailer, overturning the trailer into an irrigation ditch on the south side of the roadway.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of overturning
Verb
  • Wealthy clients, who pay a premium for privacy, are increasingly frustrated by influencers and reviewrs disrupting their experiences with filming and photo shoots.
    — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Days of heavy monsoon rain has caused rivers, including the Brahmaputra, to overflow that inundated communities while disrupting livelihoods and damaging infrastructure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Adjective
  • For a series built around the unsettling idea of collective perfection, Pluribus works because each department thrived in the chaos of creation.
    — Deadline, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As Ludwig’s body begins to change in unsettling ways, the cure becomes a journey through fear, loss and transformation.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Verb
  • Going back and forth from one home to the other home each week can be upsetting or distracting, causing distress.
    — Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Strip provided distracting saturations of red-white-and-blue.
    — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of distracting
Verb
  • Witnesses reported heavy seas, and the boat either was struck by a wave or took on water before capsizing.
    — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 16 July 2026
  • As water poured in, the vessel drifted before capsizing near the island’s coast.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of capsizing
Verb
  • But there is the risk that his strategy will backfire by confusing investors.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Jobs are down, but consumer sentiment—and the stock market—are up, leaving the retail sector to reckon with a host of seeming contradictions and confusing market signals.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 7 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on upsetting

Nglish: Translation of upsetting for Spanish Speakers

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