disturbing
adjective
dis·turb·ing
di-ˈstər-biŋ 
: causing feelings of worry, concern, or anxiety
disturbing news
a disturbing discovery
The next phase in which I had a part was even more disturbing, and infinitely more painful.—
Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
disturbingly
adverb
disturbingly high levels of pollution
a disturbingly familiar problem
… the texture of ordinary life and talk has taken on a disturbingly ambiguous quality …
—Jonathan Raban
Jonathan Raban
Synonyms
Examples of disturbing in a Sentence
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name
a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption
a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery
Recent Examples on the Web
But Trump appears to be taking a very different and, for Republicans, more disturbing route.
—Frank Donatelli, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2024
For Murtagh, the symbols and messages were both disturbing and confusing, especially in her neighborhood.
—Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 19 June 2024
A week after Alex’s robbery, cops were investigating a second disturbing crime against a child, this time in Queens.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 15 June 2024
But the journo discovers that Golden One has some even more disturbing followers, including Nordic extremist groups connected to a high school student who went on a stabbing spree in 2022.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for disturbing 
Frank Donatelli, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2024
For Murtagh, the symbols and messages were both disturbing and confusing, especially in her neighborhood.
—Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 19 June 2024
A week after Alex’s robbery, cops were investigating a second disturbing crime against a child, this time in Queens.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 15 June 2024
But the journo discovers that Golden One has some even more disturbing followers, including Nordic extremist groups connected to a high school student who went on a stabbing spree in 2022.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for disturbing
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disturbing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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