UPSETTING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does upsetting mean? 

• UPSETTING (adjective)
  The adjective UPSETTING has 1 sense:

1. causing an emotional disturbance

  Familiarity information: UPSETTING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UPSETTING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Causing an emotional disturbance

Synonyms:

disconcerting; upsetting

Context example:

an upsetting experience

Similar:

displeasing (causing displeasure or lacking pleasing qualities)

 Context examples 

Airway Questionnaire 20 (AQ20) Does your partner find your chest trouble upsetting?

(AQ20 - Partner Find Your Chest Trouble Upsetting, NCI Thesaurus)

If you have OCD, you have frequent, upsetting thoughts called obsessions.

(Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, NIH: National Institute of Mental Health)

Species that can more easily tolerate low oxygen levels, such as jellyfish, some squid and marine microbes, can flourish at the expense of fish, upsetting the balance of ecosystems.

(Oceans running out of oxygen at unprecedented rate, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

After supper she undertook the German, and blundered through it, nearly upsetting her partner with her long skirt, and romping in a way that scandalized Laurie, who looked on and meditated a lecture.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

We then went upstairs together, and having entered the room and seen the dressing-gown hanging up behind the door, I contrived, by upsetting a table, to engage their attention for the moment, and slipped back to examine the pockets.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We then ascended to the room again, when, by upsetting the cigarette-box, I obtained a very excellent view of the floor, and was able to see quite clearly, from the traces upon the cigarette ash, that the prisoner had in our absence come out from her retreat.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)