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.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the "deeply upsetting stories" were "completely unacceptable" and NHS and social care organisations had a duty to make services accessible.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
"I know it's very upsetting to the community, but this is where we are."
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
This, Mr. Ogilvy argues, was “California’s original sin,” upsetting the coast’s ecological balance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
There are some sad ironies stitched into the plot, and an upsetting late twist, though the show doesn’t wallow in it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
I have to tell you something, and I think it may be something upsetting.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
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.
