Disquieting
/dɪsˈkwaɪətɪŋ/
adjectiveC1present participle (used as adjective)
Definition
Disquieting describes something that makes people feel nervous, worried, or uneasy. It is used when a situation, sound, or thought causes a feeling of discomfort or concern, often quietly but deeply felt.
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See It in Action
Causing worry or unease
- •The disquieting news made everyone in the room silent.
- •There was a disquieting silence after the announcement.
- •His disquieting expression showed he was worried about the results.
Creating a feeling of nervousness or fear
- •The disquieting sound from the dark forest made the campers uneasy.
- •The movie’s disquieting scenes stayed in my mind long after watching.
- •It was disquieting to hear footsteps when no one else was around.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "disquieting" like "worried" or "uncomfortable," but stronger and more serious—it’s not just small worry, it is a deeper feeling that something is wrong.
- ✓Picture a quiet room where you suddenly hear an unusual noise that makes you feel nervous inside.
- ✓It’s the feeling you get when you sense something bad might happen, but you are not sure what.
- ✓Sounds like "dis-QUIET-ing" → imagine quiet being broken in a way that makes your heart beat faster because you feel uneasy.
- ✓Think of a story where the hero hears strange noises at night and feels scared but cannot see anything.
- ✓NOT like "loud" or "noisy" (which are easy to notice), disquieting is about a quiet but disturbing feeling inside.
- ✓NOT like "panic" (sudden strong fear), disquieting is a slow, growing feeling of worry or concern.
- ✓NOT like "calm" or "peaceful," it is the opposite—something that breaks your peace inside.
Try Other Words
- •Unsettling: causing a feeling of discomfort or worry (Use when the feeling is about being unsure or nervous)
- •Troubling: causing worry or concern (Use when something causes mental or emotional discomfort)
- •Disturbing: causing strong discomfort or shock (Use when the cause is more obvious or serious)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "dis-" (not, opposite) + root "quiet" (calm, peaceful) + suffix "-ing" (makes adjective from verb)
- •Etymology: From Latin "disquietare," meaning to disturb or make uneasy
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe feelings or situations that break calmness or peace
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe feelings, news, sounds, or events that cause worry or unease without loud noise
Reflect & Connect
•How do you react when you experience a disquieting feeling? Can you describe a time when something made you feel uneasy inside?
•Can something be disquieting even if it looks calm or normal on the outside? Why do you think that happens?
Fill in the blanks
1.The disquieting silence after the accident made everyone feel ___ and ___ about what would happen next.
2.When she heard the disquieting news, her face showed ___ and ___ instead of calm.
3.Unlike loud noises, disquieting sounds are ___ but still make you feel ___ inside.
4.The movie was disquieting because it slowly built ___ and ___ without sudden shocks.
5.People often feel disquieting emotions when they face ___ or ___ situations.
6.The disquieting feeling ___ when something is wrong, but you cannot explain why.
7.After the disquieting event, the town remained ___ and full of ___ questions.