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Disconcerting - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Disconcerting describes something that causes unease, confusion, or embarrassment by being unexpected or unsettling. It often leaves people feeling awkward or thrown off balance.

disconcerting

/ˌdɪskənˈsɜrtɪŋ/ /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːtɪŋ/

Definition:

Causing unease, confusion, or embarrassment; unsettling.

Synonyms:

unsettling, disturbing, unnerving, perplexing

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

reassuring, comforting

Common Collocations:

disconcerting silence, disconcerting behavior, disconcerting look

Derivatives:

disconcertingly, disconcerted

Usage Tips:

Use "disconcerting" to describe situations or behaviors that make people feel uneasy or thrown off balance.

Common Phrases:

a disconcerting habit, find it disconcerting, somewhat disconcerting

Etymology:

From French "disconcerter," meaning to confuse or unsettle; derived from Latin "dis-" (apart) + "concertare" (to contend).

Examples:

  • 1. The sudden noise was disconcerting during the exam.
  • 2. Her lack of reaction was oddly disconcerting to everyone present.
  • 3. He gave me a disconcerting stare that made me nervous.
  • 4. The silence in the room grew increasingly disconcerting as time passed.

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