troubling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.causing you to feel worried or concerned.
adj.causing distress, anxiety, or concern; often used to describe news, trends, or evidence that suggests a problem.
Simple“The doctor found some troubling signs in the blood test results.”
In context“The report highlighted several troubling discrepancies in the company's financial records that suggested potential fraud.”
UsageCommonly modifies nouns like 'news', 'trend', 'signs', or 'development'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.the act of bothering someone or causing them physical pain.
v.the present participle of 'trouble', used to describe the ongoing act of causing distress, discomfort, or physical ailment.
Simple“My old knee injury has been troubling me again since the weather turned cold.”
In context“The ethical implications of the new policy were clearly troubling the board members during the long afternoon session.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the act of causing trouble or worry to someone.
n.the gerundial noun referring to the infliction of distress or the process of causing difficulty.
Simple“He apologised for the troubling of his neighbours during the late-night move.”
In context“The systematic troubling of the local population by the occupying forces led to a formal complaint at the international tribunal.”
UsageUsually functions as a gerund followed by 'of'.
Synonyms
“What is far more troubling is their apparent goals, which have also been captured in detailed chain of thought records.”
“Whether you are seeking care online or in person, it helps to define what’s troubling you and what you’d like to change.”