# upsetting

/əpˈsɛtɪŋ/ (US) · /ʌpsˈɛtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/upsetting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. distressing

adjective · CEFR B1

making you feel sad, worried, or angry.

For teachers: causing emotional distress, agitation, or unhappiness.

- It was very upsetting to see the damage the storm caused to the garden.
- The witness provided an upsetting account of the accident, detailing the events with a level of clarity that visibly moved the jury.

### 4. a disturbance

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

the act of making something messy or out of order.

For teachers: the act of overturning, disarranging, or disturbing a settled state or physical position.

- The sudden upsetting of the old government led to months of confusion.
- The sudden upsetting of the ecological balance in the lake resulted in a rapid decline of native fish species over the following decade.

## Examples

- It was a very upsetting experience for everyone involved.
- The news of the factory closure was deeply upsetting to the local community who relied on those jobs.
- While the initial report was upsetting, the subsequent investigation revealed that the damage was far less extensive than first feared, allowing the family to find some peace.

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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.