jarring

[jahr-ing]

adjective

1. having a harshly unpleasant or disturbing effect on one’s nerves, feelings, thoughts, etc..

   The news of my cancer diagnosis was both jarring and devastating.

2. (of sounds) producing a harshly unpleasant effect; discordant.

   I’d much rather wake up to a gentle vibration than to the jarring sound of my phone alarm.

3. conflicting, clashing, or disagreeing.

   There is a jarring contrast between the trees and open space of the peaceful park and its hostile border of gray concrete warehouses and parking garages.

4. vibrating or shaking; characterized by sudden, jerky movements.

   There was enough rock on that trail to make for a jarring ride on a bike with narrow wheels and no suspension.

noun

1. the act, state, or effect of clashing or conflicting.

   Paradoxically, the jarring of an encounter with the arts in the middle of outdoor urban space creates a connection between them.

2. the act of shaking or the state of being shaken; sudden, jerky movement.

   The seats had no padding and I felt bruises forming from the jarring of the truck.

3. the act of disturbing a person by harsh, discordant sound or by something unsettling, unexpected, or unpleasant.

   For UK readers, using the British text edition makes for a comfortable read without the jarring of unfamiliar spelling or phrasing.

Other Word Forms

• jarringly adverb
• unjarring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jarring¹

First recorded in 1550–60; jar ² ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; jar ² ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

The result is jarring and off-putting to look at, even if the participants seem to be having fun.

Read more on Barron's

Some retirees pay their adviser to reassure them that they can spend a certain amount without depleting their savings, even if crises or jarring surprises arise.

Read more on MarketWatch

That was particularly jarring considering that Barkley was the foundation of Philadelphia’s attack during last season’s title run.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The stock’s new, premium valuation will make any speed bumps all the more jarring.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bergman’s production, marred by blasts of jarring folk music between scene transitions, is a little too on the nose.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bumpy 
• crushing www.thesaurus.com
• disconcerting 
• unsettling www.thesaurus.com