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

Blowing late-game leads had become a troubling trend for the Clippers this season, which pushed their first five games down to the wire. —Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024

Rising Arrests Amidst Tensions Woodland's situation is emblematic of a troubling trend: the increasing arrest of American citizens in Russia while relations between Moscow and Washington reach post-Cold War lows. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

But this year, keep in mind, among Black voters, that could be very troubling for the Democrats. —NBC News, 3 Nov. 2024

If the system flags troubling activity outside of school hours, GoGuardian Beacon contacts another person in the county — including law enforcement, in some school districts. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above