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.
Brussels wants to avoid upsetting farmers after a fierce fight over the trade agreement between the EU and the South American Mercosur bloc.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
‘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
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
Sheep have been trampling over graves and chewing up flowers at a cemetery, upsetting bereaved families with loved ones buried there.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
“To tell her how upsetting what she wrote was,” Summer answered.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
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.
