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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Boutros did not dispute the allegations, saying the conduct was upsetting and the reason the case was being dismissed. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 25 Sep. 2026 There’s so much premeditation and passion into doing that, and to actually play that with no music and just the sound and the banality of a lifeless body being hit by some blunt instrument is very viscerally upsetting. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
Not upsetting Beijing Washington is unlikely to raise tensions and upset Beijing ahead of next week's summit, while China is expected to shrug off efforts aimed at curbing oil purchases, according to analysts. — Anniek Bao,priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026 The Wolverines can change the narrative by upsetting Oklahoma and avenging a 24-13 loss from last season. — Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 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
  • Gainey could not be reached for comment, but while the current O'Connor administration has been cooperating with investigators, Chief of Staff Dann Gilman said these revelations are disturbing.
    — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Even at their most disturbing, scenes describing carnage tend to be colorful and amusing.
    — Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • Coolly, Violet responds that to avoid alarming the public, a few agitators have beenneutralized—now there’s a sticky euphemism—and their deaths passed off as revenge killings among drug traffickers.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But the idea that fine adaptations of great books need to be stopping points, rather than springboards, is alarming by itself.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • Raskin says that impeaching a Cabinet secretary would be less likely to consume Congress's agenda or raise the same concerns about overturning the result of a presidential election.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The questions range from potentially overturning gun laws to repealing the legalization of marijuana to eliminating political party primaries.
    — Digital Producer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of overturning
Verb
  • On one hand, actual output from several member countries remains below quota levels; on the other hand, Middle East conflicts disrupting critical shipping lanes introduce uncertainty over whether crude supplies can smoothly reach global markets.
    — , CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The African National Congress is on course to lose control of most of South Africa’s major cities in Wednesday’s local elections, according to polling data, potentially disrupting power dynamics in the national coalition government.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Adjective
  • But after discovering an unsettling antique portrait of a mysterious pioneer woman, their idyllic retreat begins to unravel.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Her dangling tongue, tuft of Troll doll-esque blond hair, and pink ribbon juxtaposed with an occasional top hat give her a quirky, sometimes unsettling charm.
    — Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Verb
  • As is the case in its sister hotel Villa la Coste, a dizzying array of frequently changing contemporary artworks are displayed to distracting effect throughout.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His clothes and equipment, while full of detail, also aren’t festooned with distracting elements.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of distracting
Verb
  • The rip currents and massive surf are capable of capsizing small boats, knocking people off jetties and pulling swimmers out to sea.
    — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of capsizing
Verb
  • The Justice Department has argued in its suit that the name overlap risks confusing voters.
    — Willem Marx, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Cyan could theoretically fill the visual gap without confusing road users.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of confusing

Browse Nearby Words

upsets
upsetting
upshot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upsetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsetting. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of abandon

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All