unsettling

adjective

un·​set·​tling
ˌən-ˈset-liŋ
-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce unsettling (audio)
Synonyms of unsettlingnext
: having the effect of upsetting, disturbing, or discomposing
unsettling images of the war
unsettlingly
ˌən-ˈset-liŋ-lē
-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ- How to pronounce unsettling (audio)
adverb

Examples of unsettling in a Sentence

unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And the uncertainty of it all, especially amid a seismic shift in locale ahead, made for an unsettling vibe on Thursday … and surely into the offseason. Kansas City Star, 26 Dec. 2025 As the night fills with surreal visitors and unsettling reckonings, the book becomes a haunting exploration of power, legacy, and whether a life well-lived can truly be beyond judgment. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025 That is, until a strange smell of decay, strange noises in the middle of the night and other unsettling signs start to make Blake suspect Whitney isn't such a godsend after all. Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025 Urgent, unsettling and empathetic. Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsettling

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsettling was in 1665

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Cite this Entry

“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettling. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unsettling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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