disconcerting
UK: ˌdɪskənˈsɜːtɪŋ | US: ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ
adj. causing feelings of unease, confusion, or embarrassment
adj. disturbing the composure of someone; unsettling
The word "disconcerting" originates from the French disconcerter (to disrupt harmony), combining the prefix dis- (expressing negation or reversal) and concerter (to arrange or harmonize, from Latin concertare, meaning "to contend or unite"). Over time, it evolved to describe actions or situations that disrupt mental or emotional harmony, leading to its modern sense of causing unease or confusion. The -ing suffix transforms it into an adjective describing the effect.
His sudden outburst was disconcerting to everyone in the room.
The lack of response from the team was deeply disconcerting.
She gave a disconcerting smile that made him uneasy.
The silence in the abandoned house felt oddly disconcerting.
The politician’s vague answers were disconcerting to the journalists.