jarring

[ jahr-ing ]

adjective

1. having a harshly unpleasant or disturbing effect on one’s nerves, feelings, thoughts, etc.:

   The news of my cancer diagnosis was both jarring and devastating.

2. (of sounds) producing a harshly unpleasant effect; discordant:

   I’d much rather wake up to a gentle vibration than to the jarring sound of my phone alarm.

3. conflicting, clashing, or disagreeing:

   There is a jarring contrast between the trees and open space of the peaceful park and its hostile border of gray concrete warehouses and parking garages.

4. vibrating or shaking; characterized by sudden, jerky movements:

   There was enough rock on that trail to make for a jarring ride on a bike with narrow wheels and no suspension.

noun

1. the act, state, or effect of clashing or conflicting:

   Paradoxically, the jarring of an encounter with the arts in the middle of outdoor urban space creates a connection between them.

2. the act of shaking or the state of being shaken; sudden, jerky movement:

   The seats had no padding and I felt bruises forming from the jarring of the truck.

3. the act of disturbing a person by harsh, discordant sound or by something unsettling, unexpected, or unpleasant:

   For UK readers, using the British text edition makes for a comfortable read without the jarring of unfamiliar spelling or phrasing.

Other Words From

• jar·ring·ly adverb
• un·jar·ring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jarring¹

First recorded in 1550–60; jar ²( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; jar ²( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

In the background, a jarring chorus of voices echoed, “Arrest her, arrest her!”

From BBC

Seeking a response to a jarring defeat against the All Blacks seven days prior, Ireland's victory against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday served to answer some questions while presenting a few more.

From BBC

But in our current political climate – and a life-altering election – there’s something jarring about "Here’s" presentation of a sunnier, happier world in the past.

From Salon

John Woolley, a professor emeritus of political science and co-director of the American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara, said people’s feelings about this race being particularly jarring are valid.

From Los Angeles Times

The disparity between the 2016 polls and the election outcome was a “jarring event” for pollsters, as the American Assn. for Public Opinion Research put it in a postmortem.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bumpy
• crushing
• disconcerting
• unsettling