upsetting

adjective

up·set·ting (ˌ)əp-ˈse-tiŋ

Synonyms of upsetting next

: mentally or emotionally troubling or disturbing : causing feelings of worry or anxiety

heard some upsetting news

an upsetting experience

We're up to [a deficit of] $1.5 trillion a year …. These numbers are truly upsetting.—

Bill Gates

Professors issue, or students demand, trigger warnings when presenting material that might be upsetting to some: depictions of rape, sexism, racism, suicide.—

Yvonne Abraham

upsettingly adverb

an upsettingly graphic depiction of violence

In comparison to male historical figures, the number of women that we learn about throughout school is upsettingly low. —

Alexis Gardner

Examples of upsetting in a Sentence

the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother

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.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, said delays of bird flu reports are upsetting because they’re needed to inform the public about a worsening situation with many unknown elements. —

Amy Maxmen, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025 Lombardi retired as Packers coach after that game and the dynasty ended with Green Bay missing the playoffs in 1968 and the AFL’s New York Jets upsetting Baltimore in Super Bowl 3. —

Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 The exam itself can take as long as five hours, and is, even under optimal circumstances, an invasive and upsetting ordeal. —

Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 The Daily Show’s Gross-out Prop Comedy The news is surreal, disgusting, and upsetting. —

Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for upsetting