disturbing
adjective
dis·turb·ing
di-ˈstər-biŋ 
: causing feelings of worry, concern, or anxiety
disturbing news
a disturbing discovery
The next phase in which I had a part was even more disturbing, and infinitely more painful.—
Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
disturbingly
adverb
disturbingly high levels of pollution
a disturbingly familiar problem
… the texture of ordinary life and talk has taken on a disturbingly ambiguous quality …
—Jonathan Raban
Jonathan Raban
Examples of disturbing in a Sentence
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name
a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption
a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery
Recent Examples on the Web
After much reflection, Van Dyke passed, finding the material too disturbing.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 17 Dec. 2025
This is a disturbing book that does not suggest a happy outcome.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Caught on video But the footage that has been released, along with vourt filings, paint a disturbing portrait of the day when just three adults were assigned to supervise Stephora and 86 other students.
—Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
While King's book is ostensibly more graphic (Annie chops off one of his feet), the hobbling is arguably more disturbing.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
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.
Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 17 Dec. 2025
This is a disturbing book that does not suggest a happy outcome.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Caught on video But the footage that has been released, along with vourt filings, paint a disturbing portrait of the day when just three adults were assigned to supervise Stephora and 86 other students.
—Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
While King's book is ostensibly more graphic (Annie chops off one of his feet), the hobbling is arguably more disturbing.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbing. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share