upsetting

[ uhp-set-ing ]

/ ʌpˈsɛt ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR upsetting ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to disturb or upset: an upsetting experience.

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Fend Off Sciolism With This Word Of The Day Quiz

Are you the Cinderella of this week’s quiz? Test your memory on the words and definitions from March 23–29.

Question 1 of 7

schlep

to say or do hesitantly or awkwardly

to fold or wind around something

to carry; lug

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Origin of upsetting

First recorded in 1870–75; upset + -ing²

Words nearby upsetting

upsala, upscale, upset, upset price, upset the applecart, upsetting, upsetting lever, upsetting moment, upshift, upshot, upside

Definition for upsetting (2 of 2)

upset

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

/ verb, adjective ʌpˈsɛt; noun ˈʌpˌsɛt /

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

SYNONYMS FOR upset

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR upset ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR upset

2, 3 steady.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR upset ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM upset

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

un·up·set·ta·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Most recently, Grothman attacked Secretary of State John Kerry for upsetting God.
Wisconsin Nominates Wingnut to Congress|Ben Jacobs|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Kut-le bounded into the room, upsetting the medicine-man, and lifted Rhoda in his arms.
The Heart of the Desert|Honor Willsie Morrow
She said that it was upsetting to begin the day by reading the paper, and events were to prove that she was occasionally right.
Indiscretions of Archie|P. G. Wodehouse
Who the devil has been upsetting you with lies about the Hands?
Winnie Childs|C. N. Williamson
The flash of the flaming red copper beech, at which the horses always shied and once came within an ace of upsetting the carriage.
Men in War|Andreas Latzko
As quickly as he could, Hugh got to his feet, and managed to step over the opposite side without stumbling or upsetting the canoe.
The Secret Cache|E. C. [Ethel Claire] Brill

British Dictionary definitions for upsetting (1 of 2)

upsetting

/ (ʌpˈsɛtɪŋ) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for upsetting (2 of 2)

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 forms of upset

upsettable, 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

upsetting

adjective

QUIZZES

Origin of upsetting

Words nearby upsetting

Definition for upsetting (2 of 2)

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

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

noun

adjective

Origin of upset

SYNONYMS FOR upset

ANTONYMS FOR upset

OTHER WORDS FROM upset

Words related to upsetting

Example sentences from the Web for upsetting

British Dictionary definitions for upsetting (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for upsetting (2 of 2)

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

noun (ˈʌpˌsɛt)

adjective (ʌpˈsɛt)

Derived forms of upset

Word Origin for upset