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
The sheriff said the condition of the dogs was particularly upsetting because, in his view, help had previously been available to O’Donnell. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 As upsetting as that might sound, Hart’s deft handling of tough material is on full display here, as is a pair of truly lovely performances from Sunny Sandler (Sophie herself) and the unimpeachable Melanie Lynskey as her mother Elizabeth. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 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
  • The disturbing incident comes amidst a sharp increase in both felony and misdemeanor assaults in the subway system.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The story 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.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • 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
  • Found in many foods For consumers, of course, the latest food safety concerns can be alarming given that lettuce and jalapeño peppers are used in many of the roughly 1 billion meals Americans consume daily.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • In May, the South Carolina Supreme Court agreed, overturning Murdaugh’s double-murder conviction and ordered a new trial.
    — KC Baker, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The president’s tariffs during his second term have faced an array of legal challenges, with the Supreme Court overturning some of them in February.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of overturning
Verb
  • The charges are hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor, and disrupting a meeting or procession, a Class B misdemeanor.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Secretly accessing or disrupting somebody else's computer systems can have serious consequences if an operation reaches the wrong target.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Adjective
  • The film follows Niaz (Bakhtadze), a once-famous star of Georgian cinema who embarks on a bizarre and fatalistic odyssey of self-transformation, after an unsettling audition with a young female director looking to cast him in a minor part.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Learning from the doctor that your cholesterol levels are higher than recommended can be an unsettling wake-up call.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Verb
  • Women were made to feel that their bodies were somehow offensive, distracting, or inconvenient.
    — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Now, a cross-sectional study based on a registry of fatal US motor vehicle crashes has found that the love of her albums may have even contributed a statistically significant bump in deadly traffic accidents, presumably by distracting drivers.
    — Mike McRae August 18, New Atlas, 18 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
  • Evans also cautioned against confusing maximal lifespan for a healthy lifespan.
    — Lauren Chan, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Thompson acknowledged that confusing the quarterback, like the defense appeared to do on that play, is a big part of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme.
    — Jon Machota, New York Times, 19 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 26 Aug. 2026.

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