- present participle of disquiet.
disquieting
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of disquieting
Explanation
When something really upsets or worries you, you can describe it as disquieting. The very best horror movies are supposed to be disquieting. Scary TV shows and books are disquieting, and even the local news or a documentary can be a bit disquieting, making you feel uncomfortable or rattled. In other words, they upset you with disturbing ideas, images, or subjects. You could also describe disquieting things as unsettling or distressing. The Latin roots are dis, "not," and quies, "peace."
Vocabulary lists containing disquieting
Night
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The Giver
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The Great Gatsby
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This is what makes Mollen’s reference to dating the toxic man that is her son so disquieting: Why would you tell a 12-year-old boy he’s toxic unless you intend for him to be just that?
From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026
The concept came about in 2019, when anonymous users on message board 4chan were asked to "post disquieting images that just feel 'off'."
From BBC • May 29, 2026
It was those influencers I found most disquieting during my time in Tucson.
From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026
A seemingly endless flurry of disquieting geopolitical headlines continues to sap investors’ risk appetite.
From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026
Nothing developed, but something about that creepy old building gave him goose bumps, a disquieting chill.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
