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upsetting

upsetting

81 2.5
Making someone feel sad or worried
  • adjective
  • /ʌpˈsɛtɪŋ/
translation icon : inquietante
  • The news about her illness was very upsetting for her family.
  • extremely upsetting
  • very upsetting
  • so upsetting

I find that offensive and upsetting and I'm regretful.

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Examples

Synonyms

disturbing
vsupsetting
304 4.2

Causing worry or fear

is about emotional disturbance and making people unhappy or worried
troubling
vsupsetting
154 4.0

Causing worry or distress

is similar but stresses making people unhappy rather than only uneasy
unsettling
vsupsetting
64 4.2

Making you feel worried or uneasy

is more about making people unhappy or emotionally disturbed rather than mere discomfort
distressing
vsupsetting
  • Specialized
36 4.6

Causing strong worry and emotional pain

is centered on causing worry and unhappiness rather than physical pain
disconcerting
vsupsetting
30 7.2

Making you feel confused or uneasy

is centered on making people unhappy or anxious rather than causing confusion
dismaying
vsupsetting
3 5.5

Making people feel very worried and disappointed

is about making people unhappy or worried rather than focusing on disappointment
perturbing
vsupsetting
1 6.8

Something that makes you feel worried or uneasy

is broader, also making people unhappy as well as anxious

Antonyms

134 1.4

Making someone feel less worried or upset

78 3.1

Makes someone feel less worried and calmer

How Upsetting

traumatic
154 6.3
disturbing
304 4.2
upsetting
81 2.5
unsettling
64 4.2

Surface Forms

upsetting positive

Morphology

upsetting = upset (transparent) = upset + ing

Standard adjectival/participle formation from the verb 'upset' using the productive suffix '-ing'; a learner who knows 'upset' can derive 'upsetting'.

Etymology

Upsetting comes from the verb upset, made of up- 'up' and set 'put', and it first meant to 'turn over' something, like upsetting a boat. So when your feelings are 'turned over' you feel disturbed, sad, or worried, which is why upsetting means causing that feeling.