disturbing
/dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈstər-biŋ/ (ame, mw)
disturbing — adjective
- disturbingpositive
- more disturbingcomparative
- most disturbingsuperlative
1. Something that is disturbing makes you feel worried, uncomfortable, or upset — e
Something that is disturbing makes you feel worried, uncomfortable, or upset — especially when it involves violence, cruelty, or a situation you believe is morally wrong.
The documentary contained disturbing footage of the earthquake's aftermath in the coastal town.
collocation: disturbing footage / disturbing images
What Aiko found most disturbing was how calmly the manager had dismissed the safety problems.
structure: what [person] found most disturbing was [clause]
The doctor's report showed a disturbing rise in asthma cases among children near the factory.
There was something deeply disturbing about the silence inside the old house.
- upsetting
more personal and everyday; 'upsetting' often describes sadness rather than moral shock (e.g., an upsetting farewell)
- troubling
milder in tone; 'troubling' suggests doubt or concern about a situation rather than full emotional shock
- unsettling
focuses on unease or discomfort; 'unsettling' lacks the strong element of moral violation that 'disturbing' carries
- worrying
centered on fear about future outcomes; 'worrying' is less intense than 'disturbing' and does not imply violence or cruelty
- reassuring
something that makes you feel calm and safe rather than worried or upset
- comforting
soothing and pleasant, the opposite of the discomfort 'disturbing' describes
用法筆記
Describes the thing that causes the feeling, not the person who experiences it. To describe a person's emotional state, use 'disturbed' instead (e.g., 'She was deeply disturbed by the news').