discompose

verb

ˌdis-kəm-ˈpōz How to pronounce discompose (audio)
Definition of discomposenext
1
as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy discomposed by the tone of the message left on his answering machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of the wind ruffled her hair and discomposed her carefully arranged papers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb discompose contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of discompose are agitate, disquiet, disturb, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When would agitate be a good substitute for discompose?

Although the words agitate and discompose have much in common, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When can disquiet be used instead of discompose?

The synonyms disquiet and discompose are sometimes interchangeable, but disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

Where would disturb be a reasonable alternative to discompose?

The words disturb and discompose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

When could fluster be used to replace discompose?

In some situations, the words fluster and discompose are roughly equivalent. However, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

In what contexts can perturb take the place of discompose?

While in some cases nearly identical to discompose, perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

When is upset a more appropriate choice than discompose?

The words upset and discompose can be used in similar contexts, but upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discompose In a third discomposing show of baseball in as many days, the Brewers fell, 8-6, to the lowly A's, who looked like anything but in an emphatic weekend-long dismantling of a team that entered in first place. —Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discompose
  1. disturb
  2. disrupt
  3. bother
  4. confuse
  5. distract
  6. shuffle
  7. worry
  8. alarm
Verb
  • Create Do-Not-Disturb Prompts To Discourage Interruptions Experiment with reducing your availability to interruptions by following specific practices that signal to others you shouldn’t be disturbed.
    — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Perhaps your time off request isn’t approved, or your vacation plans have been disturbed by your colleagues.
    — Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
Definition of disturb
Verb
  • The earthquake disrupted the World Series and damaged the Bay Bridge, Oakland’s Cypress Freeway, and swaths of San Francisco.
    — Terry Collins, USA Today, 8 June 2025
  • The strict licensing system has significantly disrupted the global supplies of these materials and triggered production turmoil across industries in America and Europe, raising alarms among officials and businesses alike.
    — Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • Whatever discomfort the 38-year-old was feeling didn’t appear to bother him thereafter.
    — David Close, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
  • In prior birthday events, perhaps a couple arrived early and had a cocktail, but never the rest of the party together, so this hadn’t bothered me before.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
Definition of bother
Verb
  • The measures are set to take effect on Monday and have left many Haitians confused.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Elections and Certifications Don’t confuse a benefit or B corporation with a B Corp.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of confuse
Verb
  • Sending in the National Guard was an obvious military flex, designed to to bait Angelenos while perhaps distracting Americans from Trump’s far greater troubles.
    — Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • The upshot is, an ADAS, such as Tesla FSD and robotaxi, does not get distracted and is laser-focused on the road.
    — Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of distract
Verb
  • The Discovery+ streaming service will be shuffled into the Global Networks company.
    — Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Boys as young as 10 are shuffling around, carrying trays of flour, starch and pistachios — undistracted by this reporting team's presence.
    — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 7 June 2025
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • During his imprisonment, Corby worries about whether his beloved wife, Emily, and their daughter, Maisie, can ever forgive him.
    — Anita Snow, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
  • Since the revolution, which transformed Iran into an Islamic Republic, Western nations have worried the country could use its nuclear program to produce atomic weapons using highly enriched uranium.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Definition of worry
Verb
  • Her red Chevy Avalanche was found abandoned with windows rolled down -- a detail that immediately alarmed her family.
    — Doc Louallen, ABC News, 6 June 2025
  • Trump’s sudden rebuke has alarmed some conservative court-watchers, who warn the president’s new approach could fracture a judicial pipeline built over decades.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 June 2025
Definition of alarm

Browse Nearby Words

discommoding
discompose
discomposed
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Cite this Entry

“Discompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discompose. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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