troubling

1 of 2

adjective

trou·​bling ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ 

: causing feelings of worry or anxiety

a troubling news report

It's not just trauma survivors who may be distracted or derailed by shocking or troubling material …

—Angus Johnston

troublingly adverb

troubling

2 of 2

present participle of trouble entry 2

Synonyms of troubling

Adjective

• disturbing
• unsettling
• frightening

Examples of troubling in a Sentence

Adjective

the most troubling sign of all is that he's stopped returning my phone calls

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The friends, who had a key to the house, entered the home and immediately noticed several troubling signs. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

The campaign was far from the report’s most troubling example of AI misuse. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Our favorite entry on the regional economy from the latest Beige Book reveals a troubling development in higher education. — Corey Bridges, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

This sensitivity to voids is revealed in the opening montage, consisting of empty rooms in university buildings, their vacant stillness a troubling indication of absence. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling