as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed
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2
as in overturning
to turn on one's side or upside down
the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care
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3
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upsetting
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 29 Dec. 2025
Moving on from the best stadium in the world is a very upsetting move.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Similar concerns are upsetting older adults in Sunnyvale, where a program that serves healthy meals to residents aged 60 and older, as well as their spouses and disabled dependents, increasingly has to turn people away as demand has outstripped the program’s funding.
—Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upsetting
Adjective
While that sobering fact is upsetting, know that like years past, 2025 brought more insights about how to decrease the risk of cognitive decline and strengthen brain health.
—Verb
Even though moral victories are for losers, the only loss Mike McDaniel’s team should lower its head in shame about was that 31-6 Cleveland loss two weeks ago, but the Dolphins responded by upsetting the Atlanta Falcons last week.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for upsetting
Adjective
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Despite already having declared her candidacy, McKnight voiced disturbing and violent threats against Sheehy.—
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This story contains a description of a shooting some readers may find disturbing.—
Verb
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While a small sample size, the historical record for what happens after the S & P 500 has a down month after a seven-month win streak is more reassuring than alarming for the near term.—
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China’s increasingly advanced military capabilities are alarming the West and reshaping the global balance of naval power, analysts said.—
Verb
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Oral arguments in November went badly for the administration, and prediction markets currently put 70% odds on the Supreme Court overturning the tariffs.—
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Donald filed for an appeal in February 1997, and a court heard his pleas in 2015 before overturning his convictions.—
Verb
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Airlines canceled hundreds of flights, disrupting plans for thousands of travelers during a busy holiday weekend and in a region that experts say is among the most popular for travelers this time of year.—
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One woman, Trish, told CBS News the fear was already disrupting daily life amid an influx of 2,000 federal law enforcement members in the Twin Cities metro area.—
Adjective
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Compared to the swooning Gothic romance of Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, Kenneth Branagh’s Frankenstein is just too perverse — in an unsettling way.—
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At the same time, the detective assigned to the case begins to uncover secrets about Scout, along with an unsettling breakthrough in Georgia’s death.—
Verb
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Writing essays, in the same way, lubricates my writing of fiction and vice versa—by distracting me and taking my thoughts elsewhere.—
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The glare from the sun had been reflecting in the lenses and distracting Smith.—
Verb
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Operators of another boat happened to be on the phone with the Coast Guard checking conditions in the inlet and reported the vessel, the Moonstruck, capsizing, according to The Coastland Times.—
Verb
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Canales-Pelaez said that local departments may be confusing administrative warrants with criminal ones, or overcomplying to avoid backlash from the state Legislature.—
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Among the factors hindering higher youth participation, CIRCLE research shows, include confusing registration deadlines and requirements, a lack of youth outreach and a dearth of regular curriculum that teaches young people about elections and voting in school.—
Cite this Entry
“Upsetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsetting. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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