upsetting
Americanadjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of upsetting
Explanation
When something makes you feel worried or unhappy, it's upsetting. Learning some upsetting news right before bed can make it impossible to fall asleep. It's upsetting to lose your big chess tournament or have your dog run away. In fact, anything that causes you to feel disappointed, unsettled, or distressed is upsetting. For some people, clowns are hilarious; for others, they're deeply upsetting. This adjective's meaning comes from the verb upset, "turn over or capsize." Upsetting things make you feel like your life has been turned upside down — or upset.
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.
‘Lanterns’ co-creator Damon Lindelof has apologized for saying ‘Green’ is stupid and upsetting comic book fans and Grant Morrison.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
"It was deeply shocking, and when you actually watch the victim's evidence, it's deeply upsetting."
From BBC • May 14, 2026
Unlike with data centers on Earth, SpaceX and Google wouldn’t have to worry about upsetting nearby residents, who often object to the projects.
From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026
Hair loss is one of the most upsetting side effects of cancer treatment, and many patients look for ways to bring their hair back.
From Science Daily • May 7, 2026
My weight being much greater than Dr. Trefusis’s, there was some danger of my upsetting the craft as I clambered aboard.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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.
