DISCONCERTING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

disconcerting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of disconcerting

as in embarrassing

causing embarrassment a disconcerting habit of chewing with his mouth open

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disconcerting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of disconcert

as in confusing

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress we were disconcerted by the unexpected changes to the program

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disconcerting

Adjective

Ultimately, swarms of AI could combine in rather disconcerting and dangerous ways. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 There was a brief, disconcerting interlude of quiet from the Argentina fans after that. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 In the finale, Matthew’s scenes with K Callan, who plays Ruth, are really disconcerting. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026 Bari Weiss directed the housecleaning at the newsmagazine last week, and Nick Bilton signed the letter telling Scott Pelley he was fired on Tuesday night, but the Paramount CEO owns the decisions and the disconcerting fallout. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 June 2026 The abruptness is disconcerting but can be overcome by learning the pedal’s nuances. — James Raia, Mercury News, 1 May 2026 That is really, really, really disconcerting. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Other content, however, could be so disconcerting that it is assumed never to produce meaningful debate, and news outlets (and other platforms) need to make difficult decisions on how to identify and remove such content. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026 There are plenty of inconveniences frequent air travelers have become accustomed to, from long security lines to shrinking overhead storage bins, but few are as disconcerting as heavy turbulence in flight. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026

Verb

Rates of autism are rising to previously unseen levels, owing largely to better detection and new diagnostic criteria, but the numbers are still disconcerting. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 It is filled with off-putting, perhaps even disconcerting antics, and teams don't want to add that to their locker room. — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 One less gory but still disconcerting video shown in court was the bodycam footage from the night in February 2024 when members of the LA County Sheriff’s Department paid a visit to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026 This imbalance is perhaps not expressly disconcerting much of the time. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 There was also some disconcerting history to consider. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026 There’s a lot of disconcerting news about AI in journalism lately. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026 The news is disconcerting for nearby residents like Moody. — Olivia Young, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026 As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for the rival Auburn Tigers ahead of Saturday’s Iron Bowl, the team received a bit of disconcerting news. — Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disconcerting

Adjective

Similarly, which athlete had the worst attempt at rapping and which rapper had the most embarrassing attempt at athletics?

— Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 25 Aug. 2026
The news of San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York’s arrest in Ohio Sunday for initially engaging in prostitution is undoubtedly embarrassing for York and concerning for the franchise.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Adjective

Unlike those folks from the other side of the country who fill cold-weather stadiums for bad teams during snowstorms and brag about it, the local sports fans stay away from struggling teams in uncomfortable situations and shrug about it.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
This is uncomfortable to implement, because someone in legal, compliance or operations has to sign their name to a permanent record of judgment calls the business used to make quietly and never revisit.

— Krupesh Bhat, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncomfortable

Verb

The song was a frenetic evolution of Brooklyn drill—the grimy, bone-rattling subgenre of hip-hop popularized by Bobby Shmurda—and its instrumental by the British producer 808Melo gave it a brash East London bounce.

— Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
The blockade choked one of the world’s most important shipping lanes and Iran dictated where the war’s frontline would be, rattling the global economy.

— Justin Fishel, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rattling

Adjective

The Moon in Pisces moves through your 6th House of Work, Health, and Daily Routines while making an awkward angle to Venus in Libra and your 1st House of Self.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
Most of us have felt awkward during those first tentative steps back into dating.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of awkward

Verb

The relative rarity and disturbing nature of these cases are part of what attracts so much attention, said Michelle Oberman, a law professor at Santa Clara University who has studied and written about women who kill their children.

— N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
But after a series of disturbing events begins occurring around town, including the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline, Celeste, Renata, Jane and Bonnie must grapple with the weight of their past secrets, a synopsis reads.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Adjective

Activewear After sweating it out in your beloved activewear, avoid using the hotter temperatures in the washing machine to sanitize and remove unpleasant odors.

— Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
The mediocre screen was an unpleasant surprise given that this thing advertised 100 percent sRGB gamut coverage when it was announced and on its product page for many weeks (the Internet Archive captures it here).

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of unpleasant

Adjective

The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.

— Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Ground surveys can provide more detailed information at a particular site, but covering an entire subway corridor that way would be difficult.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

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disconcerted

disconcerting

disconcertment

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“Disconcerting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disconcerting. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of disconcerting

adjective

verb

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