Synonyms

upsetting

American

[uhp-set-ing] / ʌpˈsɛt ɪŋ /

adjective

tending to disturb or upset.

an upsetting experience.

upsetting British

/ ʌpˈsɛtɪŋ /

noun

metallurgy the process of hammering the end of a heated bar of metal so that its width is increased locally, as in the manufacture of bolts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of upsetting

First recorded in 1870–75; upset + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A single social media post turned what had been one of Syed Usman Shah's "proudest moments" into one of the most overwhelming and upsetting.

From BBC

Yes, it’s upsetting to know that your boss is talking to others about something as trivial as your clothing.

From MarketWatch

"It can be good bits, and then it can be awful bits and aggressive bits and upsetting bits. And that's just what the Tourette's does. It's nasty."

From BBC

But that’s not the case in a league like the UFL, which can be more nimble and doesn’t risk upsetting nearly as many fans with an unpopular new rule.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Tourette's can feel spiteful and searches out the most upsetting tic for me personally and for those around me," he explained.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023