jarring

adjective

jar·​ring ˈjär-iŋ 

: 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

Synonyms

• surprising
• startling
• amazing
• shocking
• stunning

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

For those just starting out on their GLP-1 journey, these early symptoms and side effects can be jarring and ultimately derail proper use of the drug or even deter potential new patients. —Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025

Their portrayals draw you in ever deeper, making an explosive second-act reckoning all the more jarring and effective. —Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 18 Aug. 2025

The numbers were jarring given how strong the labor market had been in the past couple of years. —Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 Aug. 2025

Advocates like Diane Santos, already raw from Lamont’s singlehanded move to prevent OPCs, said the announcement was jarring. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jarring

• barring
• charring
• marring
• scarring
• sparring
• starring
• tarring
• debarring