disturbing

[ dih-stur-bing ]

adjective

1. upsetting or disquieting; dismaying:

   a disturbing increase in the crime rate.

Other Words From

• dis·turbing·ly adverb
• nondis·turbing adjective
• undis·turbing adjective
• undis·turbing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of disturbing¹

First recorded in 1585–95; disturb + -ing ²

Example Sentences

In her desperation, she visited a “clinic” offering an unconventional “treatment” - an outlandish and disturbing scam preying on women desperate to become mothers that involves the trafficking of babies.

From BBC

In one of her interviews, she spoke about a particularly disturbing memory she had of the violence that broke out between Hindus and Muslims.

From BBC

“Hot air balloons, drones for aerial photography, and appropriate pathways for observation from a distance could allow tourists to closely yet remotely view sinkholes, while disturbing as few organisms as possible.”

From BBC

It's a disturbing pattern Grande herself had to address last year.

From Salon

There's an even more disturbing aspect to this harassment campaign against McBride.

From Salon

Related Words

• alarming
• annoying
• bothersome
• creepy
• depressing
• disconcerting
• discouraging
• distressing
• embarrassing
• frightening
• irritating
• ominous
• painful
• perplexing
• sinister
• startling
• threatening
• troublesome
• troubling
• unpleasant