disturbing
Causing unease, alarm
Disturbing describes something that causes unease, anxiety, or emotional discomfort.
A disturbing news report or disturbing images provoke feelings of alarm or distress in those who encounter them.
The word suggests something that interrupts mental peace or challenges one's sense of normalcy: The documentary contained some disturbing footage of animal cruelty.
What counts as disturbing varies by person and context, but the term typically signals content that may upset sensitive viewers.
Disturbingly strange
- eerieDisturbingly strange
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
spooky · uncanny · strange · weird · bizarre · surreal · haunting · otherworldly
Provoking fear or anxiety
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- direExtremely serious or urgent
grave · serious · menacing · warning · troubling · worrying · concerning · distressing
Causing severe emotional damage
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- triggeringCausing to activate
- troublingCausing unease or concern
- tormentingCausing severe distress
scarring · lingering · obsessive · intrusive · recurring · persistent · nagging · gnawing
Causing horror and disgust
- goryFull of bloodshed
- grislyShockingly horrific
- macabreDisturbing, death-obsessed
- bloodyGore-covered or British curse
ghastly · grotesque · morbid · nightmarish · horrifying · terrifying · chilling · visceral
Breaking in mid-speech
- disruptiveTending to interrupt order
- distractingDrawing attention away
- interferingIntruding in others' affairs
- jarringDisturbingly incongruous
jolting · breaking · intruding · unsettling · destabilizing · derailing · upsetting · agitating
Encroaching without welcome
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
- unwantedNot wished for
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- obtrusiveUnpleasantly prominent or noticeable
meddlesome · prying · overstepping · presumptuous · impertinent · uncomfortable · violating · boundary-crossing
creepy
Disturbingly strange
- eerieDisturbingly strange
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
sinister · spooky · uncanny · strange · weird · bizarre · surreal · haunting · otherworldly · disquieting
alarming
Provoking fear or anxiety
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
dire · grave · serious · menacing · warning · troubling · worrying · concerning · distressing · unsettling
traumatic
Causing severe emotional damage
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- triggeringCausing to activate
- troublingCausing unease or concern
tormenting · scarring · lingering · obsessive · intrusive · recurring · persistent · nagging · gnawing · preoccupying
gruesome
Causing horror and disgust
bloody · ghastly · grotesque · morbid · nightmarish · horrifying · terrifying · chilling · visceral · graphic
interrupting
Breaking in mid-speech
- disruptiveTending to interrupt order
- distractingDrawing attention away
- interferingIntruding in others' affairs
jarring · jolting · breaking · intruding · unsettling · destabilizing · derailing · upsetting · agitating · rousing
invasive
Encroaching without welcome
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
- unwantedNot wished for
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
obtrusive · meddlesome · prying · overstepping · presumptuous · impertinent · uncomfortable · violating · boundary-crossing · personal
- emotional reactionsinspiring, moving, touching, heartwarming, chilling
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- media descriptorsdramatic, thrilling, suspenseful, emotional, atmospheric
- horrorhorror, terror, fear, dread, haunted
- scary feelingsterrified, frightening, dreadful, creepiness, goosebumps
- muddlingmuddling, jumbling, scrambling, mixing up, disarranging
disturbingcomforting
Giving emotional ease
reassuring · soothing · consoling · heartwarming · encouraging
disturbingpleasing
Causing enjoyment or satisfaction
delightful · agreeable · pleasant · enjoyable · gratifying
- disturbing the peaceCriminal public disruption