Cool MateDisturbing vs That's disconcerting
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Disturbing
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
That's disconcerting
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Disturbing
| Disturbing | That's disconcerting | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈdɪs.kənˌsɜː.tɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈdɪs.kənˌsɜːr.tɪŋ// |
| Meaning | causing worry or upset | It makes you feel uneasy or worried. |
| Example | a disturbing piece of news | When the lights suddenly went out, I found that disconcerting. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, become, remain, extremely, fairly, very | disconcerting news, disconcerting behavior, disconcerting situation, disconcerting thought, disconcerting feeling |
| Antonyms | comforting, reassuring, pleasing | - |
| Common mistakes | Inappropriately used for cheerful or positive events., Confused with 'disturbed', which means troubled or affected., Used as a noun instead of an adjective. | Using it in a positive context instead of a negative one., Confusing with 'disturbing' which can have different connotations., Not using the correct intonation in speech to convey discomfort. |
| Usage notes | Use 'disturbing' to describe something that makes people feel anxious or uncomfortable. It can refer to images, news, or behavior, but avoid using it in overly casual conversations. | Use when something causes surprise or discomfort. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Disturbing vs That's disconcerting
What's the difference between Disturbing and That's disconcerting?
Disturbing: causing worry or upset That's disconcerting: It makes you feel uneasy or worried.
Which is more common: Disturbing and That's disconcerting?
Disturbing is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Disturbing: a disturbing piece of news That's disconcerting: When the lights suddenly went out, I found that disconcerting.
Can I use Disturbing and That's disconcerting interchangeably?
Not always. Disturbing and That's disconcerting are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.