Disturbing means upsetting and hard to put out of your mind. A disturbing image, deeply disturbing, disturbing evidence.
It is stronger than upsetting because it implies the effect lasts — a disturbing film stays with you. Broadcasters warn about disturbing content in advance, and the warning is a legal and editorial requirement rather than a courtesy.
1adjectivedisturbingUpsetting and hard to put out of your mind.
“The news reports from the war zone were deeply disturbing.”
disturbing is a quality of upset.