unsettling

ADJECTIVE

disturbing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alarming creepy depressing disconcerting discouraging disquieting distressing frightening ominous painful perplexing startling troubling unpleasant worrisome worrying

STRONG

aggravating agitating annoying discommoding discomposing dismaying embarrassing foreboding harassing impeding irritating perturbing provoking threatening trying upsetting vexing

WEAK

bothersome burdensome consequential difficult disagreeable discomforting disruptive distressful gloomy hard inconvenient intrusive irksome laborious onerous pessimistic prophetic severe sinister tiresome toilsome troublesome troublous uncertain wearisome

Antonyms

STRONGEST

auspicious comforting delightful encouraging good happy pleasant pleasing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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unsettling

The film takes its time in unfolding its mysteries, yet it charts every moment with an unsettling psychological realism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

"I find it unsettling that an untransparent algorithm should decide a club's future."

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

There was an even more unsettling feeling: a desire to go back to his prison life, to which he had gotten so used.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

Unlike the many delicate original artifacts elsewhere in the exhibition, this one was made to let visitors get close and take home their own slightly unsettling family portrait.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

It was unsettling; her mind was so fuzzy.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

unsettling

Example Sentences

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