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
Hochheiser’s disturbing story belies the myth of Florida as the golden destination for retirees in their sunset years.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
What was disturbing were people who sped past a foot away from elderly people, shouting obscenities with faces twisted in hatred.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Enter Optimized Flatulence, the new and disturbing trend of flatulating on your own schedule.
—Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The most disturbing figure is a blond mannequin who seems to be hanging herself with a mirror instead of a noose.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
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Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
What was disturbing were people who sped past a foot away from elderly people, shouting obscenities with faces twisted in hatred.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Enter Optimized Flatulence, the new and disturbing trend of flatulating on your own schedule.
—Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The most disturbing figure is a blond mannequin who seems to be hanging herself with a mirror instead of a noose.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 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 Apr. 2026.
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