as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overturning
to turn on one's side or upside down
the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upsetting
Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
And yet, despite being an Oscar-hopeful crowd-pleaser rather than a horror movie, The Green Mile features some of the most upsetting imagery and themes in any King adaptation.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
The changes in college football are already upsetting that dynamic.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upsetting
Adjective
The Commodores snapped an 11-year poll drought last October, though — fun fact — upsetting Alabama didn’t vault Vandy into the rankings.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
And yet, despite being an Oscar-hopeful crowd-pleaser rather than a horror movie, The Green Mile features some of the most upsetting imagery and themes in any King adaptation.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
All relationships have mistakes and people end up inadvertently upsetting the other person.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
The changes in college football are already upsetting that dynamic.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upsetting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upsetting
Adjective
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Pros Leaf raking is quiet, so there are no time constraints; Collecting leaves manually not only avoids disturbing neighbors or wildlife, is also does not cause air pollution.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
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The attack adds to a disturbing pattern of violence targeting religious communities across the United States, including the recent mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 17 others.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But also alarming is that government officials don’t seem to take seriously the need to justify the reasons for their use of force, which should only be wielded to protect the rights of Americans.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
22 Sep. 2025
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Bond yields leaking higher since the Fed cut rates a quarter-point on Wednesday is not atypical, and — so far — is not alarming equity markets, inflation watchdogs or fiscal hawks.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In June, the Supreme Court allowed DOGE to access SSA records, overturning lower-court decisions that imposed some limits on data access.—
Jon Brodkin,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
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Adams’ tactics rendered the gag rule toothless and useless, prompting even six southern Congressmen to vote in favor of overturning it.—
Time,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In contrast, older workers—typically occupying more senior or specialized roles—show little anxiety about AI disrupting their employment.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
24 Sep. 2025
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At least 12 people died as heavy rain lashed the eastern Indian city of Kolkata and surrounding areas ahead of a major festival, flooding streets, disrupting transport and leaving residents stranded for hours, officials said Wednesday.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The extent to which the entire AI boom is backstopped by Nvidia’s cash isn’t easy to answer precisely, which is also one of the unsettling things about it.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
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Some experiences were unsettling.—
Soph Warnes,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rather than distracting from the acting, the animation also only enhances the heightened emotions of adolescence.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
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The subtle side snap buttons leading down to the slit provide detail without being distracting, and the pointelle knit offers enough stretch and texture to hug your curves in all the right places.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point at the state banquet, the president was seen confusing Camilla and Kate.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
25 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement The recent announcement only compounds the harm, confusing parents and diverting attention and resources from questions that could actually bring answers.—
Dr. Craig Spencer,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Hurricane forecasters are watching three major risk factors for people across a swath of the East Coast, a complex dance of weather that has led to a troubling forecast for late September.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, at that film’s Berlin Film Festival premiere, its star Nourou (Jean-Christophe Folly) is in freefall after a racially troubling run-in with a Polish hotel security heavy.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upsetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsetting. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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