jarring

adjective

jar·​ring ˈjär-iŋ How to pronounce jarring (audio)
: having a harshly concussive, disagreeable, or discordant effect
a jarring tackle
It is not hard to imagine how the wounded will fare in a long jarring ride over rough roads …William Baxter
After watching the British reports, I found the American ones jarring.Michael Massing
There is not a single jarring note from the minute you enter this turn-of-the-century palazzo, lovingly restored to its glory days …Kati Marton
jarringly adverb
jarringly harsh language
a jarringly hard hit
… an aroma that I found jarringly distracting … Randal Caparoso
The book is his angry, raunchy, opinionated, sometimes moving, jarringly frank autobiography … Brad Darrach

Examples of jarring in a Sentence

the jarring news that major financial institutions were on the verge of collapse the final chord of that song is too jarring for me
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Raj’s meek voice could faintly be heard against the jarring cacophony of honking horns, street performers, and the chatter of street vendors and passersby. Footwear News, 24 June 2025 The first-round knockout was a jarring return to the octagon. Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 21 June 2025 Although Winters captures Sophie’s despair, her character gets compressed into a plot point and her arc produces a jarring shift in mood. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 June 2025 From an overhead view, the sight is somewhat jarring — a wide expressway and railroad track dividing the course essentially in half. Noah Trister, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for jarring

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jarring was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jarring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jarring. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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