Writers often deploy "disquieting" to evoke a palpable sense of unease that permeates both the external world and the inner lives of their characters. In some texts, it captures the haunting silence of an adversary [1] or the ominous murmur of persistent rumours in high-society environs [2], while in others it marks an introspective moment when a character is confronted with unsettling personal revelations [3]. The term can color a location with mysterious, almost sinister qualities—transforming a familiar urban corner into a dark, foreboding space [4]—or suggest that something beneath the surface of ordinary events is gravely amiss [5]. Even in narratives that celebrate a sense of stability and routine, its use can introduce a subtle, simmering anxiety that challenges the reader’s expectations [6], extending ultimately to epic warnings of societal collapse or impending disaster [7].