disconcerting
disconcerting — adjective
1. describing something that makes you feel confused, worried, or slightly afraid b
describing something that makes you feel confused, worried, or slightly afraid because it is unexpected or unfamiliar.
It was disconcerting to watch the confident lawyer stumble over his words in court.
it + be + disconcerting + to-infinitive
The sudden silence in the busy market felt deeply disconcerting to the tourists.
collocation: deeply disconcerting
Dr. Okafor found the test results disconcerting because they did not match the patient's symptoms.
What many found most disconcerting was the team leader's refusal to answer any questions.
It is disconcerting that the school still has no plan for dealing with emergencies.
- unsettling
very similar in meaning, slightly more common in everyday speech
- disturbing
stronger emotional impact; suggests deeper anxiety or alarm
- troubling
focuses on causing mental worry rather than confusion
- unnerving
specifically about causing loss of confidence or courage
- reassuring
making someone feel less worried or more confident
- comforting
softer in tone; providing emotional relief
文法句型
disconcerting + noun
find + noun + disconcerting
it + be + disconcerting + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Commonly used in the pattern 'find something/someone disconcerting' and in 'it is disconcerting + to-infinitive / that-clause' constructions to describe a reaction to an unexpected or unfamiliar situation.
常見錯誤
disconcerting — verb
1. to cause someone to lose their calm, confidence, or sense of certainty, usually
to cause someone to lose their calm, confidence, or sense of certainty, usually by doing or saying something unexpected that leaves them confused or unsure how to react.
Kenji's rude question during the meeting disconcerted the speaker, who paused before answering.
transitive: disconcerted + direct object [person]
The news of the factory closure disconcerted the workers, who had not been warned in advance.
Fatima was visibly disconcerted by the sudden change to the schedule.
The unexpected applause disconcerted Linh, making her forget the next line of her speech.
Nothing disconcerted the old captain; he had faced far worse storms in his youth.
文法句型
disconcert + noun phrase [person]
be disconcerted by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice ('be disconcerted by'). The subject is typically an event, a piece of news, or an unexpected action, while the object is always a person. Less common in casual conversation than its adjective form.