# jarring

/ˈdʒɑɹɪŋ/ (US) · /dʒˈɑːɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jarring
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

feeling or looking very different from everything else in a way that is unpleasant or shocking. You use it when something does not fit in and makes you feel uncomfortable.

For teachers: clashing or incongruous in a manner that causes a physical or emotional shock. Often used to describe sounds, colors, or transitions that are unpleasantly inconsistent with their surroundings.

## Examples

- The bright yellow wall is jarring in this dark room.
- The sudden shift from a quiet piano solo to loud heavy metal was jarring for the audience.
- The architect's decision to place a glass skyscraper next to the medieval cathedral created a jarring contrast that sparked intense debate among the local preservationists.

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'seem', or attributively before a noun.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.