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
Examples of disturbing in a Sentence
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name
a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption
a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery
Recent Examples on the Web
Horror remains one of the few realms where difficult and disturbing stories are an asset, but underrepresented creators should still have more reach.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
2 July 2026
Still, the document provided revealing details, including one that hinted at the disturbing scale of Weakfall’s crimes.
—
Joaquin Sapien,
ProPublica,
30 June 2026
Community testimony began in early May, and the many accounts of how life has changed for Australian Jews after October 7th, and the subsequent destruction of Gaza, have been disturbing.
—
Oscar Schwartz,
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
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
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Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
2 July 2026
Still, the document provided revealing details, including one that hinted at the disturbing scale of Weakfall’s crimes.
—
Joaquin Sapien,
ProPublica,
30 June 2026
Community testimony began in early May, and the many accounts of how life has changed for Australian Jews after October 7th, and the subsequent destruction of Gaza, have been disturbing.
—
Oscar Schwartz,
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
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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