upset by

USAGE SUMMARY

"upset by" is correct and usable in written English.
In general, you can use it to describe something or someone that has been made upset by a particular event/action/situation. For example: "The child was upset by the news of his parents' divorce."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Expect to be upset by upsetting events.

Stanford University

They were upset by that".

The New Yorker

I wasn't upset by it.

The New York Times - Sports

Bibi is very upset by the episode.

The New Yorker

However, environmentalists are obviously upset by this.

The Economist

Was his father upset by the accusations?

The New York Times - Magazine

No one got overly upset by this.

The Economist

I was a bit upset by that.

Independent

Paley was upset by Murrow's broadcast.

The New Yorker

"They're not upset by that".

The New York Times - Health

Nothing to be upset by.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject experiencing the emotion is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "upset by" for trivial matters. Reserve it for situations causing genuine emotional distress rather than mild inconvenience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upset by" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of emotional distress caused by a specific event, action, or situation. This is reflected in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "upset by" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone is experiencing negative emotions as a result of a specific cause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general communication. When using the phrase, ensure that the cause of the distress is clearly identified. While there are many semantically similar alternatives, such as "bothered by" or "annoyed by", each carries subtle differences in meaning that should be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bothered by

Focuses on the feeling of being disturbed or annoyed.

disturbed by

Emphasizes the interruption of peace or tranquility.

annoyed by

Highlights a feeling of mild irritation.

irritated by

Similar to annoyed but can suggest a stronger reaction.

aggravated by

Implies a worsening of a negative state due to something.

dismayed by

Indicates disappointment and discouragement.

offended by

Suggests a feeling of hurt or insulted pride.

perturbed by

Highlights a state of anxiety or unease.

vexed by

Implies being troubled or frustrated.

displeased by

Indicates dissatisfaction or disapproval.

FAQs

How can I use "upset by" in a sentence?

Use "upset by" to indicate that someone is feeling sad, disappointed, or angry because of something. For example, "He was "upset by" the news of the project's cancellation."

What are some alternatives to "upset by"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "bothered by", "disturbed by", or "annoyed by".

Is it correct to say "upset from" instead of "upset by"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "upset" in this context is "by". "Upset from" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "upset by" and "angry about"?

"Upset by" generally implies a broader range of negative emotions, including sadness and disappointment, whereas "angry about" specifically indicates anger as the primary emotion.