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unsettlingly

unsettlingly

1 7.0
In a way that makes you feel worried or nervous
  • adverb
  • /ʌnˈsɛtəlɪŋli/
translation icon : inquietantemente
  • "I'm you," the boy said, and in his voice, Levidow again heard an unsettlingly familiar timbre, a musical note that rang in his ears like a memory.
  • unsettlingly clear
  • unsettlingly close
  • unsettlingly human

Examples

  • It's a wilderness of bots and unsettlingly human text and deepfakes and bad actors.

  • The evening of the Academy Awards was hot and unsettlingly clear.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The swamp was unsettlingly silent, save for the constant buzz of cicadas in the distance.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Helen looked unsettlingly happy, a broad smile plastered to her face, but the look made her seem younger, heftier.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Indeed, for anyone who is used to mental health units consisting of open-plan wards that echo with daytime TV, it is unsettlingly quiet.

    Academic text (2008)
  • When the gate is closed, the dimensions of the house and yard become unsettlingly ambiguous; silvery wire and white drapery seem to fold in on themselves endlessly, like a frozen waterfall.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The abandoned house stood unsettlingly silent, making my skin crawl as I approached the door.

  • He spoke unsettlingly softly, causing the audience to lean in closer to catch every word.

  • The documentary revealed unsettlingly graphic images that left many viewers feeling disturbed.

Synonyms

eerily
vsunsettlingly
30 6.8

In a strange and frightening way

is about general unease and worry rather than eerie supernatural quality
uncomfortably
vsunsettlingly
26 3.4

In a way that makes a person feel uncomfortable or awkward

focuses more on emotional unease, worry, and psychological discomfort
uneasily
vsunsettlingly
19 4.2

In a worried or uncomfortable way

describes causing those feelings in others rather than showing them
alarmingly
vsunsettlingly
14 5.4

In a way that makes people feel worried or afraid

tends to mean general unease or worry without immediate danger
disturbingly
vsunsettlingly
14 5.3

In a way that makes you feel worried or uneasy

is slightly wider, also covering mild unease and low-level worry
uncannily
vsunsettlingly
5 6.9

In a way that is strange, surprising, and hard to explain

is more plain, focusing on causing worry or simple discomfort
creepily
vsunsettlingly
4 4.9

In a way that makes someone feel afraid or uncomfortable

is more general, causing discomfort or worry beyond creepiness
chillingly
vsunsettlingly
3 6.3

In a way that makes you feel afraid or very uncomfortable

is more general causing worry and unease rather than sharp fear
distressingly
vsunsettlingly
3 6.5

In a way that makes people feel worried or unhappy

is more about general discomfort and worried feeling than strong distress
worryingly
vsunsettlingly
2 4.6

In a way that makes people feel concerned

covers general discomfort and worry beyond specific situational concern
disconcertingly
vsunsettlingly
1 7.5

In a way that makes people feel uneasy or confused

focuses more on causing worry and discomfort without confusion or embarrassment
troublingly
vsunsettlingly
1 5.0

In a way that makes people worried or upset

is broader, describing unease that may not focus on a specific problem
jarringly
vsunsettlingly
1 8.2

In a way that shocks and feels out of place

describes ongoing discomfort rather than sudden shocking discord
unnervingly
vsunsettlingly
1 7.5

In a way that makes someone feel nervous or uneasy

causes a wider sense of discomfort or general unease rather than pure nerves
spookily
vsunsettlingly
1 7.0

In a strange, frightening way that feels like a ghost

is broader, causing worry or discomfort without spooky connotations
upsettingly
vsunsettlingly
1 5.1

In a way that makes someone feel sad or worried

leans toward causing uneasy worry rather than overt emotional disturbance
disquietingly
vsunsettlingly
8.3

In a way that makes people feel anxious or uneasy

is broader, meaning general unease rather than sustained anxious feeling
worrisomely
vsunsettlingly
6.2

In a way that makes people feel nervous or unsure

is wider, including milder unease that is not full worry

Antonyms

45 2.0

In a way that makes your body feel relaxed and at ease

6 3.5

In a way that makes someone feel less worried

How Unsettling

alarmingly
14 5.4
disturbingly
14 5.3
unsettlingly
1 7.0
troublingly
1 5.0

Surface Forms

unsettlingly positive

Morphology

unsettlingly = unsettling (transparent) = un + settle + ing + ly

Formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'unsettling', which is itself transparently 'un-' + 'settle'.

Etymology

Unsettlingly breaks into un- 'not', settle 'to make calm or quiet', and -ly 'in a way'. So, when something happens unsettlingly, it is 'not calming' and makes you feel uneasy or worried.