upsetting
adjective
up·set·ting
(ˌ)əp-ˈse-tiŋ 
: mentally or emotionally troubling or disturbing : causing feelings of worry or anxiety
heard some upsetting news
an upsetting experience
We're up to [a deficit of] $1.5 trillion a year …. These numbers are truly upsetting.—
Bill Gates
Bill GatesProfessors issue, or students demand, trigger warnings when presenting material that might be upsetting to some: depictions of rape, sexism, racism, suicide.—Yvonne Abraham
Yvonne Abraham
upsettingly
adverb
an upsettingly graphic depiction of violence
In comparison to male historical figures, the number of women that we learn about throughout school is upsettingly low.
—Alexis Gardner
Alexis Gardner
Examples of upsetting in a Sentence
the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother
Recent Examples on the Web
The pair was in good spirits during the season 8 reunion, with Daniel flaunting a tattoo of Taylor's eyes on his chest that's equal parts romantic and upsetting.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 13 June 2025
My nose and mouth were full of blood, guts and a deep, upsetting warmth.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
There was a lot of patience asking for his feedback, and to still not get anything has been very upsetting.
—Rachel Desantis, People.com, 4 June 2025
But Asimov also recognized that powerful artificial intelligences, even if attempting to follow our rules, would be strange and upsetting at times.
—Cal Newport, New Yorker, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upsetting
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Randall Colburn, EW.com, 13 June 2025
My nose and mouth were full of blood, guts and a deep, upsetting warmth.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
There was a lot of patience asking for his feedback, and to still not get anything has been very upsetting.
—Rachel Desantis, People.com, 4 June 2025
But Asimov also recognized that powerful artificial intelligences, even if attempting to follow our rules, would be strange and upsetting at times.
—Cal Newport, New Yorker, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upsetting
Cite this Entry
“Upsetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upsetting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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