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
Recent Examples on the Web
Tense, disturbing, riveting, Alex Garland’s dystopian film Civil War examines an existential threat preying on the American sub-conscious: What would happen if the political and social divisions cleaving the United States ultimately collapse the nation into the abyss?
—Eisa Nefertari Ulen, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
It's been nearly three years since Bob Odenkirk had his heart attack on the set of Better Call Saul and in a recent interview with the Multiple Talking Women podcast, the actor revealed an interesting, if slightly disturbing, tidbit about that fateful day.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2024
The following video and images contain sensitive content that some readers may find offensive or disturbing.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
But the disturbing future scenarios that conclude the book are consistent with Nichols’ conflicted view of the automobile’s effects on women.
—Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
The disturbing details of this young woman’s death are truly the stuff of nightmares.
—Sarah Shannon, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Steve Burns, the former Nick Jr. star who spent several years as the lead of Blue’s Clues, is responding to the disturbing allegations made against Nickelodeon in the five-part documentary series, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
Watching and hearing the regular explosions in the distance was surreal and disturbing.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Both sounded kind of disturbing and lacked any soul or feeling.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Eisa Nefertari Ulen, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
It's been nearly three years since Bob Odenkirk had his heart attack on the set of Better Call Saul and in a recent interview with the Multiple Talking Women podcast, the actor revealed an interesting, if slightly disturbing, tidbit about that fateful day.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2024
The following video and images contain sensitive content that some readers may find offensive or disturbing.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
But the disturbing future scenarios that conclude the book are consistent with Nichols’ conflicted view of the automobile’s effects on women.
—Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
The disturbing details of this young woman’s death are truly the stuff of nightmares.
—Sarah Shannon, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Steve Burns, the former Nick Jr. star who spent several years as the lead of Blue’s Clues, is responding to the disturbing allegations made against Nickelodeon in the five-part documentary series, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
Watching and hearing the regular explosions in the distance was surreal and disturbing.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Both sounded kind of disturbing and lacked any soul or feeling.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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