ˌən-ˈset-liŋ
1
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsettling
Literary Hub
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
These are the unsettling hallmarks of a Lisa Jewell novel, but not of the woman behind the books.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 25 June 2025
While the idea might sound unsettling, most of us naturally have these mites.
—Julie Loffredi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
The other shoe dropped with an unsettling thud recently when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt openly gay-bashed in defense of her controversial boss.
—Louis Balsamo, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Adjective
Tom becomes attached, obsessed, centering his life around this woman who’s tied up in his life in complicated and unsettling ways.
—Literary Hub
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
These are the unsettling hallmarks of a Lisa Jewell novel, but not of the woman behind the books.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 25 June 2025
While the idea might sound unsettling, most of us naturally have these mites.
—Julie Loffredi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
The other shoe dropped with an unsettling thud recently when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt openly gay-bashed in defense of her controversial boss.
—Louis Balsamo, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsettling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettling
Adjective
-
Scientists have found a new way to cheat the system – which is both ingenious and disturbing.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Pisciotta alleged that West’s disturbing behavior did not end after she was terminated at Yeezy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Outlook: Stability or Strain? Oil markets in 2024 were defined by an uneasy equilibrium.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Given that uneasy reminder, the small victory ultimately won by King and his followers is even more extraordinary and potent.—
Sophie van Bastelaer,
EW.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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The lack of transparency is troubling for computer scientist Talia Ringer, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who earlier in the week criticized the company’s handling of the technology’s antisemitic outbursts.—
Matt O’Brien,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
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Mixed Reactions While some universities criticize the procedure and announce retractions, others have attempted to justify the practice, revealing a troubling lack of consensus on AI ethics in academia.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Eyewitness accounts reported that the sweltering temperatures, along with swarms of flies from a nearby stable, contributed to a tense atmosphere and slowed down debate.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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The coach withdrew him just after the hour mark against PSG and the cameras caught the forward looking tense and concerned on the bench.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Occupying and distracting the mind.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Moreover, if their environment is unpredictable, frightening, or volatile, some children learn that any disagreement could lead to danger and try to bury their feelings to avoid conflict and maintain a sense of peace.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
7 July 2025
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The great outdoors can be a big and frightening place, especially for cats who have only seen it from the safety of the great indoors.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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The choice of name was coincidental but Lee and Kirby were anxious to avoid any connection to radical politics.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
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My expectation is that the veteran who has been in the Octagon against some of the heaviest hitters in the UFC’s heavyweight division is going to be anxious to test the young man who only has 35 seconds of UFC fight time to his name.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Overweight and obesity need to be treated safely and effectively to avoid that worrying forecast.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Dec. 2024
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Bitcoin has dropping back from its all-time high of over $100,000 in the last week as BlackRock quietly confirmed a worrying bitcoin bombshell.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Unsettling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettling. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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