unsettling

adjective

un·​set·​tling
ˌən-ˈset-liŋ,
-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce unsettling (audio)
: having the effect of upsetting, disturbing, or discomposing
unsettling images of the war
unsettlingly
ˌən-ˈset-liŋ-lē
-ˈse-tᵊl-iŋ- How to pronounce unsettling (audio)
adverb

Examples of unsettling in a Sentence

unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father
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.
And for people who value stability, control or routine, that kind of change can feel deeply unsettling. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 There’s also the strange, silent, cubic villagers with long rectangular noses who are deeply unsettling, not to mention the square pigs. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2025 The claim is almost as unsettling as the time a guy at a soiree here in France casually mentioned that under Vichy France’s Nazi rule, I would have been forced to reproduce, with him. Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025 Creator Charlie Brooker promises a return to form, with six new episodes that span the emotional spectrum: some darkly funny, others deeply unsettling, all rooted in sci-fi storytelling that challenges our relationship with technology, society, and ourselves. Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsettling

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsettling was in 1665

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Cite this Entry

“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettling. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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