ˌən-ˈset-liŋ
1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father
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as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsettling
Oscar Schwartz,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
But the darkness of that material gave her credence to explore another unsettling backstory for Krem.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
Kari Traylor,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2026
Eisenberg’s compositional intelligence has a near-merciless quality, zeroing in on feelings of calm and unsettling them.
—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Adjective
For a community of a hundred and fifteen thousand, many of whom are descended from Holocaust survivors, these incidents have been profoundly unsettling.
—
Oscar Schwartz,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
But the darkness of that material gave her credence to explore another unsettling backstory for Krem.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
Verb
Contemporary research complicates these findings, necessarily accounting for differences in dosage, metabolism, and preparation, and unsettling scientific conclusions divorced from how sassafras was utilized in real, traditional contexts.
—
Kari Traylor,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2026
Eisenberg’s compositional intelligence has a near-merciless quality, zeroing in on feelings of calm and unsettling them.
—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettling
Adjective
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There were many disturbing parts of Kerstin’s story left unpursued.
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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.
Adjective
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The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
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But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
Verb
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So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
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At the same time, the state’s spending keeps growing quickly as well, alarming the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which advises the Legislature on fiscal matters.
Adjective
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The June 14 shooting has outraged community members and prompted protests in the small town of Senatobia, where residents point to a string of troubling encounters with police in recent years.
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This year’s line-hardening—by my count, some twenty-three per cent of cases—is both remarkable and troubling.
Adjective
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In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
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Both of these factors lead to tense – but also quite funny –moments.
Verb
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Driving into the estate down a dirt track, you’re met with concrete walls that frame the space with gallery-like precision, directing your eyes toward geological features rather than distracting from them.
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There was some online angst over whether Swift was distracting from football — while the NFL itself capitalized on her fandom.
Adjective
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The hypocrisy is stunning, and frightening.
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Yes, the Scots played poorly, but Brazil’s brilliant roster of attacking talent capitalized on mistakes with frightening efficiency.
Adjective
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Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.
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America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.
Cite this Entry
“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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