upsetting

adjective

up·set·ting (ˌ)əp-ˈse-tiŋ

Synonyms of upsetting next

: mentally or emotionally troubling or disturbing : causing feelings of worry or anxiety

heard some upsetting news

an upsetting experience

We're up to [a deficit of] $1.5 trillion a year …. These numbers are truly upsetting.—

Bill Gates

Professors issue, or students demand, trigger warnings when presenting material that might be upsetting to some: depictions of rape, sexism, racism, suicide.—

Yvonne Abraham

upsettingly adverb

an upsettingly graphic depiction of violence

In comparison to male historical figures, the number of women that we learn about throughout school is upsettingly low. —

Alexis Gardner

Examples of upsetting in a Sentence

the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Lions resume their quest for the franchise’s first Super Bowl trip following last week’s bye, and the Commanders try to keep the magic flowing a week after upsetting Tampa Bay 23-20 in a thrilling wild-card victory. —

Mike Jones, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025 There is also the risk of upsetting Trump, and the president's whims are something tech companies have so far showed a willingness to bend to. —

Maria Curi, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025 That is what makes the Dell injury that much more upsetting. —

Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024 Just as upsetting is the E.D. itself (short for Emergency Department, since they’re not called E.Rs. —

Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for upsetting