it was definitely upsetting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was definitely upsetting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something caused a strong feeling of distress or disappointment. Example: "When I heard the news about the accident, it was definitely upsetting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It was definitely upsetting," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I'm a competitor so I was definitely upset to not be able to go," Reynolds said.

Los Angeles Times

"I hope guys in there take it personally; I'm definitely upset," said third baseman David Wright, whose bases-empty home run in the seventh inning was his 30th of the season.

The New York Times - Sports

"She was definitely upset about this torts grade — there was no doubt about it," Mr. Toobin said.

The New York Times

It was definitely a Mourinho tactic to disrupt their rhythm and upset them.

BBC

It was definitely tricky.

The New York Times

"It was definitely incrementalist.

The New York Times

It was definitely demons.

Independent

"It was definitely boiling.

The New York Times - Sports

It was definitely routine.

The New York Times

It was definitely hard".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing disappointment, consider the intensity of your feeling and choose a synonym for "upsetting" that accurately reflects it. For example, use "frustrating" if you feel hindered, or "disappointing" if you feel let down.

Common error

While "definitely" emphasizes the feeling, overusing it can weaken your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "certainly", "truly", or by directly stating the reason for your upset.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was definitely upsetting" functions as an expression of feeling or emotion. It conveys a subjective reaction to a particular event or situation, indicating that something caused distress or disappointment. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was definitely upsetting" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express personal disappointment or distress. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, serving the purpose of conveying subjective feelings about events or situations. While the register is generally neutral, it is important to consider the intensity of emotion and choose the most appropriate synonym for "upsetting" to accurately reflect your feelings. Overusing "definitely" should be avoided. Alternatives like "it was truly disappointing" or "it was certainly disheartening" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was truly disappointing

Substitutes "definitely upsetting" with "truly disappointing", emphasizing the feeling of letdown.

It was certainly disheartening

Replaces "definitely upsetting" with "certainly disheartening", offering a slightly more formal tone.

It caused considerable distress

Focuses on the distress caused by the situation, rather than the speaker's personal feeling.

It was extremely frustrating

Changes "upsetting" to "frustrating", highlighting the feeling of being blocked or hindered.

It left me feeling rather troubled

Shifts the focus to the speaker's internal feeling of being troubled.

It was exceptionally irritating

Emphasizes annoyance with "exceptionally irritating", intensifying the feeling of aggravation.

It was incredibly annoying

Replaces "upsetting" with "annoying", suggesting a lesser degree of distress but still expressing irritation.

I found it to be quite perturbing

Presents a slightly more detached and objective perspective, using "perturbing".

It proved to be quite bothersome

Expresses the sentiment in a slightly more indirect and polite manner.

It was a source of great vexation

Uses a more formal and literary tone, emphasizing the source of annoyance.

FAQs

What does "it was definitely upsetting" mean?

The phrase "it was definitely upsetting" expresses that something caused a strong feeling of distress, disappointment, or annoyance. The addition of "definitely" emphasizes the intensity of the feeling.

How can I use "it was definitely upsetting" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase to describe a situation or event that caused you distress. For example, "When I heard the news about the project being cancelled, "it was definitely upsetting"."

What can I say instead of "it was definitely upsetting"?

You can use alternatives like "it was truly disappointing", "it was certainly disheartening", or "it was extremely frustrating" depending on the context.

Is "it was definitely upsetting" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal situations, consider using a more refined alternative like "it caused considerable distress".