upsetting

[uhp-set-ing]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR upsetting ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to disturb or upset: an upsetting experience.

Origin of upsetting

First recorded in 1870–75; upset + -ing²

upset

[verb, adjective uhp-set; noun uhp-set]

verb (used with object), up·set, up·set·ting.

to overturn: to upset a pitcher of milk.

to disturb mentally or emotionally; perturb: The incident upset her.

to disturb or derange completely; put out of order; throw into disorder: to upset a system; to upset a mechanism; to upset an apartment.

to disturb physically: It upset his stomach.

to defeat or overthrow an opponent that is considered more formidable, as in war, politics, or sports.

Metalworking. to thicken the end of (a piece of heated metal) by hammering on the end against the length of the piece.

verb (used without object), up·set, up·set·ting.

to become upset or overturned.

noun

an upsetting or instance of being upset; overturn; overthrow.

the defeat of a person, team, etc., that is considered more formidable.

a nervous, irritable state of mind.

a disordered or confused arrangement.

Metalworking.

a tool used for upsetting.
something that is upset, as a bar end.

adjective

overturned: an upset milk pail.

disordered; disorganized: The house is upset.

distressed; disturbed: She had an upset stomach. He is emotionally upset.

Archaic. raised up.

Origin of upset

1300–50; Middle English: raised up; see up-, set

Related formsup·set·ta·ble, adjectiveup·set·ter, nounup·set·ting·ly, adverbun·up·set, adjectiveun·up·set·ta·ble, adjective

Synonyms for upset

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR upset ON THESAURUS.COM

1. Upset, capsize, overturn imply a change from an upright or other stable position to a prostrate one. Upset is a familiar word, applied to simple, everyday actions: to upset a table, a glass of water. Capsize is applied especially to the upsetting of a boat or other vessel: to capsize a canoe. Overturn usually suggests violence in upsetting something supposedly stable: The earthquake overturned houses. All three are used figuratively, also: to upset the stock market; to capsize a plan; to overturn a government. 2. unnerve, disconcert, fluster. 5. depose, displace. 10. perturbation, disturbance. 11. mess. 15. disconcerted, agitated, perturbed, annoyed.

Antonyms for upset

2, 3. steady.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for upsetting

troublesome, embarrassing, annoying, worrisome, distressing, startling, alarming, threatening, discouraging, irritating, unpleasant, inconvenient, painful, disquieting, depressing, disruptive, trying, frightening, tiresome, creepy

Examples from the Web for upsetting

Contemporary Examples of upsetting

Roberts has shown a tendency in other political law cases to make broad pronouncements, upsetting precedent.
The Supreme Court Is Weighing Corporate Power Yet Again
Zephyr Teachout
October 17, 2014
What is upsetting, especially in a book about what Dunham has “learned,” is how much weight she puts on being in a relationship.
Time to Grow Up, Lena Dunham
Emily Shire
October 10, 2014
Most recently, Grothman attacked Secretary of State John Kerry for upsetting God.
Wisconsin Nominates Wingnut to Congress
Ben Jacobs
August 13, 2014
On the other hand, upsetting and alienating a large percentage of the population such as the Sunnis is a recipe for disaster.
Iran Is the Biggest Loser in Iraq
Aki Peritz
June 15, 2014
And, yes, this conversation must include addressing the role Islam plays—even at the risk of upsetting some of my fellow Muslims.
How We Stop the Next Boko Haram
Dean Obeidallah
May 22, 2014

Historical Examples of upsetting

This upsetting of her plans and hopes worried Thankful not a little.
Thankful's Inheritance
Joseph C. Lincoln
They keep 'phoning and telegraphing and upsetting things generally.
The Rise of Roscoe Paine
Joseph C. Lincoln
This pressure of interrogation was upsetting the restraint he was putting on himself.
The Twins of Suffering Creek
Ridgwell Cullum
You understand that nothing is more disturbing than the upsetting of a preconceived idea.
Chance
Joseph Conrad
What I feared was a shrill note escaping me involuntarily and upsetting my balance.
The Shadow-Line
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for upsetting

upsetting

noun

metallurgy the process of hammering the end of a heated bar of metal so that its width is increased locally, as in the manufacture of bolts

upset

verb (ʌpˈsɛt) -sets, -setting or -set (mainly tr)

(also intr) to tip or be tipped over; overturn, capsize, or spill

to disturb the normal state, course, or stability ofto upset the balance of nature

to disturb mentally or emotionally

to defeat or overthrow, usually unexpectedly

to make physically illseafood always upsets my stomach

to thicken or spread (the end of a bar, rivet, etc) by forging, hammering, or swagging

noun (ˈʌpˌsɛt)

an unexpected defeat or reversal, as in a contest or plans

a disturbance or disorder of the emotions, body, etc

a tool used to upset a bar or rivet; swage

a forging or bar that has been upset in preparation for further processing

adjective (ʌpˈsɛt)

overturned or capsized

emotionally or physically disturbed or distressed

disordered; confused

defeated or overthrown

Derived Formsupsettable, adjectiveupsetter, nounupsetting, adjectiveupsettingly, adverb

Word Origin for upset

C14 (in the sense: to set up, erect; C19 in the sense: to overthrow); related to Middle High German ūfsetzen to put on, Middle Dutch opzetten

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for upsetting

upset

mid-15c., "to set up, fix," from up + set (v.). Cf. Middle Dutch opsetten, German aufsetzen. Modern sense of "overturn, capsize" (1803) is that of obsolete overset. Meaning "to throw into mental discomposure" is from 1805. The noun sense of "overturning of a vehicle or boat" is recorded from 1804.