disturbingly good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disturbingly good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is surprisingly impressive or enjoyable, yet has an unsettling or troubling quality. Example: "The movie was disturbingly good, leaving me both entertained and slightly disturbed by its themes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

If he is lying, he is a disturbingly good actor.

The Guardian

Their size as infants (admittedly measured when they were a year old, rather than at birth) was a disturbingly good predictor of their incomes 50 years later.

The Economist

"An arresting, nastily comic cautionary tale", is what she calls the evening, in which Matthew Cottle and Alexandra Mathie, as the brother and sister, are "disturbingly good".

The Guardian

Mariane furtively steals hits of sake to dump into her coffee, sleeps with countless men -- the sex scenes here are frank, messy and disturbingly good -- and has abandoned a young child of her own, a daughter.

The New York Times - Books

Thirty-one disposals (16 contested), 80% disposal efficiency, 12 tackles, 10 clearances, seven inside 50s and two goal assists is a disturbingly good return early on in any career.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Anderson's performance – and her blouses (shades of Sarah Lund here; can we ever appreciate a female copper without reference to her clothing?) – were widely admired, but Jamie Dornan's turn as the "disturbingly good-looking" (as one female journalist put it) psychopath Spector was star-making.

Independent

Disturbingly good-looking dudes, mind you.

Huffington Post

Shannon is also disturbingly expert at playing drunk.

The Guardian

The Zika virus headlines may seem disturbingly familiar — with good reason.

Los Angeles Times

The Man With the Disturbingly Smelly Foot is good for the over-sevens at the Unicorn.

The Guardian

But its long-range political consequences sound disturbingly familiar.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disturbingly good" when you want to convey that something is impressively effective or skilled, but also unsettling or problematic in some way. It suggests a sense of unease or moral ambiguity alongside the positive attribute.

Common error

Avoid using "disturbingly good" when you simply mean 'very good' or 'excellent'. The phrase carries a specific connotation of unease or moral conflict, so ensure the context reflects this nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disturbingly good" functions as an intensifier (disturbingly) modifying an adjective (good). It describes something positively, but with an unsettling or unnerving quality. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and acceptable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disturbingly good" is a correct and usable phrase to describe something excellent in a way that causes unease or disquiet. Ludwig AI validates the phrase's correctness and provides real-world examples, primarily from news and media sources. While grammatically straightforward, it's essential to consider the specific connotation before using it, as it implies more than simple admiration. Related phrases like "unsettlingly skillful" or "eerily competent" offer alternative ways to convey this blend of proficiency and unease. Remember to use it when there's an unsettling aspect associated with the positive quality being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsettlingly skillful

Direct synonym replacement, keeping the unsettling tone.

disconcertingly capable

Focuses on the disconcerting nature of the capability.

eerily competent

Competence is presented in an eerie or unsettling manner.

uncomfortably proficient

Highlights a level of skill that causes unease.

worrisomely impressive

Indicates that the level of impressiveness is causing concern.

remarkably unsettling

Replaces the intensifier and the adjective, focusing on the unsettling aspect.

surprisingly effective

Emphasizes unexpected effectiveness rather than a troubling quality.

unpleasantly adept

Highlights the unpleasantness associated with being adept.

inconveniently talented

Focuses on the talent being problematic in some way.

exceptionally alarming

Shifts the focus to the alarming aspect of being exceptional.

FAQs

How can "disturbingly good" be used in a sentence?

You can use "disturbingly good" to describe something surprisingly effective but morally questionable, like: "His imitation was "disturbingly good", but it felt wrong to laugh at someone's misfortune."

What's a similar expression to "disturbingly good"?

Similar expressions include "unsettlingly skillful", "remarkably unsettling", or "eerily competent", each conveying a blend of proficiency and unease.

Is it ever wrong to use "disturbingly good"?

Yes, it would be inappropriate to use "disturbingly good" if you intend to express simple admiration. It's reserved for scenarios where the 'goodness' is coupled with something unsettling or morally ambiguous.

What makes "disturbingly good" different from "very good"?

"Very good" is a general expression of high quality. "Disturbingly good" implies a level of excellence that is unsettling, either because of its implications or the means by which it was achieved. The context is critical for making sure it fits.