troubling

adjective

trou·​bling ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ 

: causing feelings of worry or anxiety

a troubling news report

It's not just trauma survivors who may be distracted or derailed by shocking or troubling material …

—Angus Johnston

troublingly adverb

Synonyms

• discomforting
• discomposing
• disquieting
• distressing
• disturbing
• nagging
• nasty
• perturbing
• troublesome
• troublous
• unsettling
• upsetting
• worrisome

Examples of troubling in a Sentence

the most troubling sign of all is that he's stopped returning my phone calls

Recent Examples on the Web

That historical tension—between the promise of scientific freedom and the peril of political control—may now be resurfacing in troubling ways. —Alondra Nelson, Time, 13 May 2025

Even beyond the legal angle, this chaotic tariff regime reveals something more troubling: a total absence of strategic thinking. —Aron Solomon, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025

Grammy-winning artist John Legend opened up about the troubling transformation of longtime collaborator and friend Kanye West in a candid interview with The London Times published on Saturday (May 10). —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 May 2025

The Silence Of Psychological Disengagement This kind of silence is subtle, but often more troubling. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for troubling

• bubbling
• doubling
• redoubling