upsetting

adjective

up·​set·​ting (ˌ)əp-ˈse-tiŋ 

: mentally or emotionally troubling or disturbing : causing feelings of worry or anxiety

heard some upsetting news

an upsetting experience

We're up to [a deficit of] $1.5 trillion a year …. These numbers are truly upsetting.

—Bill Gates

Professors issue, or students demand, trigger warnings when presenting material that might be upsetting to some: depictions of rape, sexism, racism, suicide.

—Yvonne Abraham

upsettingly adverb

an upsettingly graphic depiction of violence

In comparison to male historical figures, the number of women that we learn about throughout school is upsettingly low.

—Alexis Gardner

Synonyms

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

Examples of upsetting in a Sentence

the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother

Recent Examples on the Web

Balance upsetting coverage with good news, stories of progress, and examples of people who have gone through tragedy and made it to the other side. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024

Dye notes that the upsetting details of the case in the quiet Mississippi beach town have had reverberating effects on the small seaside community. —Emily Palmer, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Naturally, not having the usual fast start is likely very upsetting to the Cowboys. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

The challenge in Democracy games is implementing your policies without upsetting people so badly that you’re overthrown or assassinated. —Barry Collins, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above