how disturbing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how disturbing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a reaction to something that causes discomfort or unease. Example: "The news report about the incident was truly shocking, highlighting just how disturbing the situation has become."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What disturbs me is how disturbing we find it to think about children with malignancies and how easily we create a myth that makes us feel better.

Huffington Post

Severity of disease (Box B, Figure 1) was measured by asking respondents to evaluate how disturbing they found specific prompted diseases (1 = not disturbing at all; 5 = very disturbing).

BMC Public Health

Many fathers have signed the petition, alarmed by how disturbing this is for their daughters.

Independent

But a closer look at this group shows how disturbing its work really is.

The New York Times

You can imagine how disturbing such people find liquidity-trap economics.

The New York Times

The Iraq crisis provided a taster of how disturbing such a scenario might be.

The Economist

Patricia Williams '75 a professor at Columbia Law School, recalled how disturbing that was.

Harvard University

But when asked how disturbing the discord was to him, Colarossi professed ignorance.

The New York Times - Sports

But on Thursday, Trump gave the movement something else, no matter how disturbing, to envision.

The Guardian

That is a lazy reply that ignores how disturbing this case is.

The New Yorker

Today, nearly a century on, it's hard to grasp how disturbing such work was to some at the time.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how disturbing" to express your reaction to something unsettling or concerning, but consider the context and audience to determine if a stronger or more nuanced phrase might be appropriate.

Common error

While "how disturbing" is widely applicable, avoid overusing it in very casual conversation where simpler expressions like "how weird" or "how strange" might be more fitting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how disturbing" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or clause, expressing the degree to which something is unsettling, troubling, or alarming. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and acceptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

18%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how disturbing" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to express the degree to which something is unsettling or troubling. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and acceptability in written English. It is frequently used in news and media, science, and academic contexts to convey a subjective reaction or evaluation. While generally neutral in tone, consider the specific context and audience when using this phrase, opting for alternatives like "how unsettling" or "how alarming" for nuanced expression. Overuse in informal settings should be avoided in favor of simpler expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how unsettling

Emphasizes the feeling of being disturbed in a way that disrupts one's peace of mind.

how alarming

Highlights the potential danger or threat associated with the situation.

how troubling

Focuses on the problematic or concerning aspects of a situation.

how disconcerting

Stresses the confusing or unsettling nature of something.

how worrisome

Indicates a cause for anxiety or concern.

how dreadful

Expresses a strong sense of fear or distaste.

how appalling

Conveys a sense of shock and disgust at something considered morally wrong.

how shocking

Emphasizes the unexpected and startling nature of something.

how horrifying

Highlights the terrifying and frightening aspects of something.

the level of disturbance

Shifts the focus from the adjective to the noun, emphasizing the degree of disruption caused.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "how disturbing"?

You can use alternatives like "how unsettling", "how alarming", or "how troubling" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "how disturbing" formal or informal?

"How disturbing" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal options might exist for very formal writing.

How do I use "how disturbing" in a sentence?

You can use "how disturbing" to express your reaction or assessment of a situation, for example, "It's "how disturbing" the truth came out after so many years" or "The report highlights "how disturbing" the findings are".

What's the difference between "how disturbing" and "what's disturbing"?

"How disturbing" expresses the degree to which something is unsettling, while "what's disturbing" asks for the specific aspects that are unsettling. For example, "How disturbing the movie was!" versus "What's disturbing is the violence portrayed in the movie".