as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment
a disconcerting habit of chewing with his mouth open
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in confusing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
we were disconcerted by the unexpected changes to the program
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of disconcerting
James Raia, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
That is really, really, really disconcerting.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Other content, however, could be so disconcerting that it is assumed never to produce meaningful debate, and news outlets (and other platforms) need to make difficult decisions on how to identify and remove such content.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
There are plenty of inconveniences frequent air travelers have become accustomed to, from long security lines to shrinking overhead storage bins, but few are as disconcerting as heavy turbulence in flight.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
About 20 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Mooresville residents report finding dirty water filters turning a disconcerting brown.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
That alone would be disconcerting, but that the line (dubbed the Petrova Line, after the scientist who discovered it) seems to be linked to a new, gradual dimming of the sun?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2026
The only disconcerting note for reigning champion Bayern was the withdrawal at halftime of Manuel Neuer.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
None of the emails unearthed so far appear to indicate criminal activity, but are—like the photos—disconcerting.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 31 Jan. 2026
Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026
There’s a lot of disconcerting news about AI in journalism lately.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
The news is disconcerting for nearby residents like Moody.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for the rival Auburn Tigers ahead of Saturday’s Iron Bowl, the team received a bit of disconcerting news.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The code, though, is currently often replete with disconcerting troubles.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This detail, at once tragic and comic, painfully human and stupidly bureaucratic, captures something essential about Schattenfroh, an extremely dark novel about the horrors of modern European history laced with the delirious, disconcerting humor of a Hieronymus Bosch painting.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The young actor has a disconcerting awareness of the roiling potential of his changing body.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Even without Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s size remains disconcerting to the Nuggets, especially when Aaron Gordon is out.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The abruptness is disconcerting but can be overcome by learning the pedal’s nuances.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
That is really, really, really disconcerting.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Other content, however, could be so disconcerting that it is assumed never to produce meaningful debate, and news outlets (and other platforms) need to make difficult decisions on how to identify and remove such content.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
There are plenty of inconveniences frequent air travelers have become accustomed to, from long security lines to shrinking overhead storage bins, but few are as disconcerting as heavy turbulence in flight.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
About 20 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Mooresville residents report finding dirty water filters turning a disconcerting brown.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
That alone would be disconcerting, but that the line (dubbed the Petrova Line, after the scientist who discovered it) seems to be linked to a new, gradual dimming of the sun?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2026
The only disconcerting note for reigning champion Bayern was the withdrawal at halftime of Manuel Neuer.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
None of the emails unearthed so far appear to indicate criminal activity, but are—like the photos—disconcerting.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
There was also some disconcerting history to consider.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026
There’s a lot of disconcerting news about AI in journalism lately.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
The news is disconcerting for nearby residents like Moody.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for the rival Auburn Tigers ahead of Saturday’s Iron Bowl, the team received a bit of disconcerting news.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The code, though, is currently often replete with disconcerting troubles.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This detail, at once tragic and comic, painfully human and stupidly bureaucratic, captures something essential about Schattenfroh, an extremely dark novel about the horrors of modern European history laced with the delirious, disconcerting humor of a Hieronymus Bosch painting.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The young actor has a disconcerting awareness of the roiling potential of his changing body.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Even without Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s size remains disconcerting to the Nuggets, especially when Aaron Gordon is out.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disconcerting
Adjective
-
The mistake was embarrassing, but the use of the technology wasn’t.—
Max Raskin,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
-
The trial laid bare some of Silicon Valley's messy inner workings, with emails, diary entries and sometimes embarrassing text message exchanges shown as evidence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Schoen’s contract extension is confusing at best.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2026
-
Huxley’s critique is clear; America mistakes body for spirit, promiscuously confusing the physical with the metaphysical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, as Zohran Mamdani gained steam in New York’s Democratic mayoral primary, Jeffries found himself in an increasingly uncomfortable position.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The uncomfortable truth is that in most organizations, nobody has a clear answer.—
Shiv Kaushik,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Despite the mothballed plant's handsome brick exterior, inside it's filled with rattling pipes, hazard signs and cockroach carcasses.—
Ishan Thakore,
NPR,
20 May 2026
-
This nerve-rattling sequence that leaves three of the Khachaturian men dead is a wrenching depiction of innocent casualties brought down by split-second combat decisions.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
After her death, Riley read her diaries, an awkward experience at times.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
On-screen, Armitage’s portrayal of the socially awkward Sheldon has earned him critical acclaim.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
There's also an argument to be made that this is disturbing the wildlife at the national park, which is a valid concern.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
Disrupting the possibility of cheerful solitude is both a stylistic and social shift, disturbing the film’s non-narrative serenity while depicting how dismantling the safety net displaces basic functions onto those least able to bear them.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Artificial Grape Deterrent Birds find the compound methyl anthranilate unpleasant.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
-
Aside from an unpleasant taste and potentially foul odor, condiments that have been opened and sitting in your fridge for too long can cause illness.—
Arabella Hau,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Building the program had proved difficult.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Sindcom 14-Piece Food Storage Containers Set The pantry is one of the most difficult places to organize thanks to boxes of cereal, pasta, baking ingredients, and more scattered about.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disconcerting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disconcerting. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
