Disconcerting vs Concerning Quiz: Test Yourself
Disconcerting vs Concerning Flip Cards
A concerning trend. An email concerning the delay.
A disconcerting silence.
People mix up disconcerting vs concerning because both words describe things that bother us, and the two sound alike enough to blur together. The typo “disconcerning” shows up for the same reason. The words overlap a little, but they are not interchangeable, and knowing the difference makes your writing sharper.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concerning | Causing worry or anxiety | Adjective | The rise in errors is concerning. |
| Concerning | About; regarding | Preposition | She wrote a note concerning the schedule. |
| Disconcerting | Unsettling; causing confusion or unease | Adjective | It was disconcerting to hear my name called in the empty hall. |
| Disconcerning | Not a standard word; a misspelling | None | Write disconcerting or concerning instead. |
What does concerning mean?
Concerning most often means causing worry, as in a concerning symptom or a concerning delay. It describes something that makes you think a problem may be developing.
It has a second job as a preposition meaning about or regarding. In that use it does not carry any worry at all: “a policy concerning refunds” simply means a policy about refunds. This double role is one reason the word can feel slippery, and it is something disconcerting never does.
Because concerning is rooted in the word concern, it tends to look ahead. A concerning sign is a warning that something might go wrong.
What does disconcerting mean?
Disconcerting means unsettling: it describes something that throws you off, confuses you or makes you feel uneasy. It comes from the verb disconcert, which means to disturb someone’s composure or plans.
The focus is on the feeling in the moment, not on a future problem. A stranger who knows your name, a painting whose eyes seem to follow you, or a long pause in the middle of a conversation can all be disconcerting. Nothing may be going wrong, yet your balance is off.
The adverb is disconcertingly, as in “the room was disconcertingly quiet.”
Is disconcerning a real word?
No, disconcerning is not a standard English word. It appears to be a blend of disconcerting and concerning, and spell-checkers will normally flag it.
If you meant to say something unsettling, write disconcerting. If you meant something worrying, or about something, write concerning. Either way, drop the extra variant.
Disconcerting vs concerning: how do you tell them apart?
The difference between disconcerting and concerning is the type of reaction each one describes. Concerning produces worry about an outcome, while disconcerting produces unease or confusion about what is happening right now.
Compare two sentences. “The test results were concerning” suggests a possible health problem ahead. “It was disconcerting to see the doctor look away” describes the uncomfortable feeling of the moment. In the first, you are worried about what comes next. In the second, you are unsettled by what is in front of you.
The two can overlap, and a single event might be both. A sudden power cut might be concerning because of the risk and disconcerting because of the dark. When you can, choose the word that matches the reaction you actually mean.
It also helps to watch the endings. Use -ing for the thing causing the feeling (a concerning trend, a disconcerting noise) and -ed for the person feeling it (I am concerned, she looked disconcerted).
What are the most common mistakes?
- That’s a disconcerning trend.
That’s a disconcerting trend. (Or concerning, if you mean worrying.) - I emailed you disconcerting the meeting.
I emailed you concerning the meeting. Only concerning can mean about. - Disconcerting is just a stronger way to say concerning.
Disconcerting describes feeling unsettled; concerning describes worry about what may happen. - She was disconcerting when the lights flickered.
She was disconcerted when the lights flickered. Use -ed for the person who feels it. - The sudden change was concerned.
The sudden change was concerning. Use -ing for the thing causing the worry.
How can you remember which one to use?
The easiest way is to ask what kind of reaction you want to describe: worry points to concerning, and being thrown off points to disconcerting. A few memory tricks help it stick.
- The root trick: concerning contains the word concern, so it links to worry.
- The “dis” trick: as a memory aid, think of disconcerting as something that disrupts your calm, since dis- often signals a break or reversal.
- The “about” test: if you can swap in the word about, the word is concerning. Disconcerting can never mean about.
FAQ: Disconcerting vs Concerning
What does disconcerting mean?
Disconcerting means unsettling. It describes something that confuses you, throws you off balance or makes you feel uneasy.
Is disconcerning a word?
No. Disconcerning is a common misspelling that blends disconcerting and concerning. Use one of those two words instead.
Can concerning mean about?
Yes. Concerning can be a preposition meaning about or regarding, as in an email concerning the schedule.
Is disconcerting stronger than concerning?
Not exactly. They describe different reactions: concerning points to worry about what could happen, while disconcerting points to feeling unsettled or thrown off.
What is the difference between disconcerting and disconcerted?
Disconcerting describes the thing that unsettles you, while disconcerted describes the person who feels unsettled.
Conclusion
Disconcerting vs concerning comes down to the reaction: concerning is about worry over what might happen, and disconcerting is about feeling unsettled right now. Remember that disconcerning is not a word, and you will avoid the most common slip. Try the quiz and flip cards above to lock it in.
Share this with someone who mixes these up.