disturbing encounter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disturbing encounter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an experience or meeting that causes discomfort or unease. Example: "After the disturbing encounter with the stranger in the alley, she felt anxious walking home alone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

There was also a disturbing encounter with a crevasse — a snow bridge gave way, and I fell in.

The New Yorker

There was also a disturbing encounter with a crevasse a snow bridge gave way, and I fell in.

The New Yorker

It is an uncanny and disturbing encounter with real people, the light reflected off their faces falling on chemically sensitised surfaces long ago.

The Guardian - Arts

You are one of those silence breakers and we all owe you a debt of gratitude," Tomei said of Arquette, who told the New Yorker about a disturbing encounter she had with Harvey Weinstein.

The Washington Post

Yet time spent with the Willoughbys isn't all delectable meals and dips in the pool, and Lara, naïvely trusting of people so inattentive to the needs of others, has a disturbing encounter one night at Ceccomoro.

The New York Times - Books

There's also the middle member of that team, who is caught between the leader's authority and his own disturbing encounter with the computer's display of will, and a young woman from another team who helps Peter to test his hypothesis and seems interested in him but can't break through his shell of reticence.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Other people came forward after Sept. 11 with stories about disturbing encounters with the hijackers that they did not report.

The New York Times

Ask any Asian-American, and they'll readily summon memories of schoolyard taunts, or disturbing encounters on the street or at the grocery store.

The New York Times

Indeed, a number of accounts of disturbing encounters with that tall and hairy mythic creature have been reported in this town of a mere couple of thousand near the Louisiana border.

The New York Times

In disturbing encounters – alone in a bedroom with a sex worker who produces a gun, or taken in a car and made complicit in the coercion of a young Russian immigrant who tries to escape – each spectator is required to respond and participate.

The Guardian

The report quoted many other protesters who described similarly disturbing encounters with the NYPD.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a "disturbing encounter", provide specific details to convey the nature and impact of the event on the person involved. Avoid generalizations and focus on concrete descriptions.

Common error

Avoid overusing the phrase "disturbing encounter" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations that genuinely cause significant unease, fear, or psychological distress. Otherwise, consider using more appropriate terms such as "unpleasant experience" or "awkward situation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disturbing encounter" functions as a noun phrase, where "disturbing" acts as a qualifying adjective that modifies the noun "encounter". It describes the nature or quality of the encounter, indicating that it caused unease or distress. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "disturbing encounter" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe an unsettling or distressing event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is primarily employed within news and media contexts. While not overly common, its usage is appropriate across various registers. Alternative phrases, like "unsettling incident" or "traumatic experience", can offer nuanced variations depending on the specific context. It's important to reserve this phrase for situations that genuinely cause significant unease and avoid exaggerating its use for minor inconveniences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsettling incident

Replaces "encounter" with "incident" and uses a different adjective with a similar meaning.

traumatic experience

Emphasizes the potential emotional impact of the encounter.

frightening situation

Highlights the fear-inducing aspect of the encounter.

unsettling confrontation

Combines "unsettling" to soften the negative connotation, but suggests a more direct and potentially hostile interaction.

unpleasant interaction

Substitutes "disturbing" with "unpleasant" to soften the negative connotation.

alarming confrontation

Replaces "encounter" with "confrontation" and suggests a more direct and potentially hostile interaction.

negative interaction

Uses more neutral expression and can be applicable in many situation.

troubling event

Uses a more general term, "event", to describe the encounter.

disconcerting episode

Emphasizes the confusion or unease caused by the encounter.

awkward exchange

Highlights the uncomfortable nature of the interaction.

FAQs

How can I use "disturbing encounter" in a sentence?

You can use "disturbing encounter" to describe an event that caused unease or distress, such as: "She had a disturbing encounter with a stranger in the park." or "The witness described a disturbing encounter with the suspect before the crime."

What are some alternatives to "disturbing encounter"?

Alternatives include "unsettling incident", "traumatic experience", or "frightening situation", depending on the specific context and the level of impact you want to convey.

Is "disturbing encounter" formal or informal?

"Disturbing encounter" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news reports and narratives. More formal alternatives might include "unsettling incident", while less formal options might be "creepy experience" (if appropriate).

What makes an encounter "disturbing"?

An encounter becomes "disturbing" when it causes significant unease, anxiety, or psychological distress. This can result from a variety of factors, including threatening behavior, inappropriate comments, or witnessing something shocking or unsettling. The level of impact distinguishes it from a merely unpleasant or awkward experience.