Word
disturbing
Meanings
Causing feelings of worry, shock, or upset because it is unpleasant or alarming.
Suggesting that something is wrong or harmful and making people feel uneasy about the situation.
Definition
Causing worry, shock, or upset because something seems wrong or harmful.
Disturbing describes something that makes you feel anxious, unsettled, or shocked. It is often used for facts, images, stories, or behavior that suggest danger, cruelty, or serious problems. The word focuses on the emotional impact on the observer rather than physical action.
Examples
- The documentary included disturbing footage that stayed with me long after it ended.
- She found the silence in the building disturbing, as if something had just happened.
- They described a disturbing pattern of behavior that the team could no longer ignore.
- I heard a disturbing rumor at the conference, and I decided to verify it before repeating it.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse disturbing (upsetting) with disturbed (mentally troubled or interrupted), e.g., saying “I am disturbing” instead of “I am disturbed/upset.”
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.