troubling

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

Synonyms

• discomforting
• discomposing
• disquieting
• distressing
• disturbing
• nagging
• nasty
• perturbing
• troublesome
• troublous
• unsettling
• upsetting
• worrisome

Examples of troubling in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Recently officials announced the disturbing news that bird flu has infected a pig in Oregon, a troubling development that health experts say could mean a more transmissible and virulent virus. —Seema Policepatil, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024

What progress Israel has made, moreover, offers a troubling precedent for the lowering of moral standards in the pursuit of victory. —John Spencer, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024

The statistics reveal a troubling paradox: Nonprofits dedicated to creating a more equitable world grapple with internal inequities that halt women's progress in their organizations and prevent them from reaching their full potential. —Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Spin the wheel and pick the most troubling thing to come out of this trip to the desert. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above