as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upsetting
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
These boundaries can extend to social media content around politics that may be emotionally upsetting or create mental unrest.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025
Allison Morrow, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
Ranked in the preseason Top 25, the Jayhawks limped to a 2-6 start before upsetting 7-1 Iowa State.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upsetting 
Adjective
If Washington remains aggressive and can keep an extra drive or two alive, that will go a long way in the Commanders upsetting yet another team.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
These boundaries can extend to social media content around politics that may be emotionally upsetting or create mental unrest.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
Failing to do so risks upsetting a leader with a short fuse and the power to sink a company’s stock or ignite a boycott with a single social media post.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
Ranked in the preseason Top 25, the Jayhawks limped to a 2-6 start before upsetting 7-1 Iowa State.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upsetting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upsetting
Adjective
-
But even for Ye, his abrupt public embrace of antisemitism and counterintuitive right-wing political rhetoric, resulting in his bringing avowed white nationalist Nick Fuentes to dine with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, has been disturbing.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
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During the investigation, other facility staff showed deputies a disturbing video that was sent to them in a group chat from Rice.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Protests keep disrupting life in Dhaka, the capital.—
Saif Hasnat Atul Loke,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
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In-app ads, which go through compliance checks to avoid disrupting gameplay, offer creators 70% of ad revenue, with Overwolf retaining 30%.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Equal parts exhilarating and unsettling, many fans crowned Lamar victorious in the beef, especially after the spat led to litigation.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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But Syrian human rights groups and locals have publicized unsettling accounts of summary executions and disappearances of Alawites.—
Fawaz A. Gerges,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This is a clever way to offer a dual-screen experience without the flaws inherent to current dual-screen laptops, including distracting hinges and designs with questionable durability.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
7 Jan. 2025
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In a car, this could be used to hide distracting entertainment displays from the driver while passengers are able to see information such as music playlists or calendar alerts, for example.—
Barry Collins,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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At least as troubling is that Bove ordered the dismissal of charges against Adams without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled at a later date.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
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How Venezuela Helps Fuel Colombian Violence: A decades-old rebel group has waged the worst violence in Colombia in a generation, setting off troubling regional tensions.—
Atul Loke,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
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The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This pre-dates the casual fashions that would take hold during the 1960s, eventually collapsing traditional dressiness by the 1970s, making Sumbariners and GMT Masters the thing to wear.—
Allen Farmelo,
Robb Report,
26 Dec. 2024
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Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse On March 26, a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, collapsing the bridge and killing six construction workers who were filling potholes on the span.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But the $12 billion decline in his fortune has more to do with asset shuffling than stock price movement.—
Julie Goldenberg,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
-
James has been shuffling back and forth between the NBA and the G League.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near upsetting
Cite this Entry
“Upsetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsetting. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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