unsettling 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈset-liŋ
Definition of unsettlingnext
1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region

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2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father

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unsettling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of unsettle
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unsettling
Adjective
For a community of a hundred and fifteen thousand, many of whom are descended from Holocaust survivors, these incidents have been profoundly unsettling. — Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 For some visitors, the monument to one of the nation’s most consequential chapters also drew unsettling parallels to today's divisions. — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Verb
The over 13-minute uncut interview shows the rapper thoroughly unsettling Colbert, in an improvised rap about, among other things, a romantic relationship between the pair of them. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 May 2026 But as dubious therapies and unsettling postcolonial rituals blur the line between wellness and manipulation, Alexa begins uncovering the disturbing forces hidden beneath the retreat’s seductive façade. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettling
  1. disturbing
  2. uneasy
  3. alarming
  4. troubling
  5. tense
  6. distracting
  7. frightening
  8. anxious
Adjective
  • There were many disturbing parts of Kerstin’s story left unpursued.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 1 July 2026
  • But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Verb
  • So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
    — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • At the same time, the state’s spending keeps growing quickly as well, alarming the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which advises the Legislature on fiscal matters.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of alarming
Adjective
  • The June 14 shooting has outraged community members and prompted protests in the small town of Senatobia, where residents point to a string of troubling encounters with police in recent years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • This year’s line-hardening—by my count, some twenty-three per cent of cases—is both remarkable and troubling.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Definition of troubling
Adjective
  • In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • Both of these factors lead to tense – but also quite funny –moments.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
Definition of tense
Verb
  • Driving into the estate down a dirt track, you’re met with concrete walls that frame the space with gallery-like precision, directing your eyes toward geological features rather than distracting from them.
    — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
  • There was some online angst over whether Swift was distracting from football — while the NFL itself capitalized on her fandom.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of distracting
Adjective
  • Spain are a more understated attacking unit, and there’s a sense that while Lamine Yamal has been excellent, there is another gear for the Barcelona 18-year-old to find, which is fairly frightening for everyone else.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • For millions of individuals and businesses who rely on professional preparers, the answer portends a frightening prospect if the return preparer is dishonest.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
  • America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.
    — The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of anxious

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Cite this Entry

“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettling. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unsettling

Nglish: Translation of unsettling for Spanish Speakers

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