disturbing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- disturbingly adverb
- nondisturbing adjective
- undisturbing adjective
- undisturbingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of disturbing
Explanation
When something really worries or upsets you, you can describe it as disturbing. War photography is usually disturbing. It can be disturbing to see people be hurt, or a child going hungry: it troubles the person who is witnessing such difficulties. Some strange things are also often described as disturbing, such as bizarre clown art or people who walk around dressed in animal costumes. If it bothers and distresses you, it's disturbing. The Latin root, disturbare, combines dis, "completely," with turbare, "to disorder."
Vocabulary lists containing disturbing
May the 4th Be With You: Star Wars Words
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Mockingbird
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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.
"Political violence has no place in any democracy and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event," Carney wrote on X.
From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026
Unprofessional and disturbing as the claim may be, it also provides a hilarious example of how narcissists defeat themselves.
From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026
The trend has disturbing implications not only for U.S.-Israel relations but for the future of American power and ideals.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
“I certainly could not have imagined the twists and the disturbing turns that this race has taken,” Yee said as she announced she was dropping out.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
They called her name in loud whispers, not wanting to shout for fear of disturbing the snake.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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.
