upsetting — Causing distress, worry, or emotional disturbance. Making someone feel troubled, anxious, or emotionally uncomfortable.
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: Causing distress, worry, or emotional disturbance. Making someone feel troubled, anxious, or emotionally uncomfortable.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈʌpsetɪŋ/
Example Sentences
- It's really upsetting when your phone dies right before an important call.
- The movie had an upsetting ending that made everyone cry.
- Finding out that pizza place closed down was genuinely upsetting.
upsetting
ADJECTIVE[/ˈʌpsetɪŋ/]
Causing distress, worry, or emotional disturbance. Making someone feel troubled, anxious, or emotionally uncomfortable.

Causing distress, worry, or emotional disturbance. Making someone feel troubled, anxious, or emotionally uncomfortable.

The more upsetting, the harder forgetting, the deeper regretting!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'upset' meaning 'to set up' or 'to overturn,' combining 'up' (direction) and 'set' (to place). The emotional meaning of 'disturbing' developed from the literal sense of turning something upside down.
Breakdown
up- (upward direction/reversal) + set (to place) + -ing (present participle/adjective suffix)
🎵Rhyme
📝Examples
“It's really upsetting when your phone dies right before an important call.”
“The movie had an upsetting ending that made everyone cry.”
“Finding out that pizza place closed down was genuinely upsetting.”
“She found the criticism about her work quite upsetting.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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