disturb

verb

di-ˈstərb How to pronounce disturb (audio)
Definition of disturbnext
1
as in to bother
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy all that talk of war disturbed us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to change the place or position of the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to worry
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation sorry to disturb you while you're working

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to weigh
to cause discomfort to or trouble for please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disturb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disturb are agitate, discompose, disquiet, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

When is it sensible to use agitate instead of disturb?

In some situations, the words agitate and disturb are roughly equivalent. However, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

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

When is discompose a more appropriate choice than disturb?

The synonyms discompose and disturb are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 can disquiet be used instead of disturb?

The meanings of disquiet and disturb largely overlap; however, disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

When would fluster be a good substitute for disturb?

While the synonyms fluster and disturb are close in meaning, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When could perturb be used to replace disturb?

Although the words perturb and disturb have much in common, perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

In what contexts can upset take the place of disturb?

The words upset and disturb 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 disturb Earlier attempts to exhume the site were stopped because Jewish law forbids disturbing the dead. —Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 22 July 2025 Disney also ought to be concerned about disturbing trends in childhood development. —Robert Niles, Oc Register, 22 July 2025 Signs on the fence that surrounds the property warn of large fines for disturbing the site, which is the subject of investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Cal-OSHA. —Nathaniel Levine, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025 In 2005, an anonymous tipster sent the family disturbing images of a woman from an adult website based in the Caribbean. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for disturb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturb
  1. bother
  2. remove
  3. disrupt
  4. worry
  5. weigh
  6. distract
  7. relocate
  8. confuse
Verb
  • But one aspect of his robberies bothers him to this day.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 26 July 2025
  • This means that some people might not bother using them.
    — Ben Coxworth July 26, New Atlas, 26 July 2025
Definition of bother
Verb
  • One of the first things the trust did was remove the plants.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
  • That can also help remove some of the fear around layoffs.
    — Winnie Sun, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of remove
Verb
  • Underneath the fun exterior, Red Bull was serious about its ambitions of disrupting F1’s front-runners and assembling a team that was capable of winning a championship.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Frequent use can disrupt normal bowel function and lead to laxative dependence or chronic constipation.7 Only use castor oil under medical guidance.
    — Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 11 July 2025
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • Still, shivering in the night chill and worrying about sharks for something that may not even lead to a good ride?
    — Will Carless, USA Today, 31 July 2025
  • But don't worry, CoHorts hive, Green and Viotti promise the heart of the novel remains intact in the film, which Susan McMartin adapted.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 31 July 2025
Definition of worry
Verb
  • Addae is Black, 6 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds with a medium build, and has brown eyes and black hair styled in a low cut.
    — Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 27 July 2025
  • This year, families are weighing more than rankings and acceptance rates.
    — Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Definition of weigh
Verb
  • As the plant grows around it, the support becomes almost invisible and does not distract from the plant's beauty.
    — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
  • The legal fight threatens to distract from the group's goals in a state where Democrats already struggle to adequately field and fund candidates.
    — Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
Definition of distract
Verb
  • Industry sources report that several Hungarian companies are already considering relocating operations to more crypto-friendly jurisdictions in the Baltics or elsewhere in Europe.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Eight horses died in the blaze, while Cox and the homeowners saved 10 others that have relocated to other stables in the area.
    — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
Definition of relocate
Verb
  • Baun’s ability to play on the line of scrimmage allowed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to shift the front with Baun moving from off-ball to edge or vice versa right before the snap, confusing the blocking assignments for the offense.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 23 July 2025
  • The snake is also easily confused with the Brahminy blind snake, also known as the flowerpot snake, an invasive species in Barbados, according to Re:wild.
    — Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of confuse

Browse Nearby Words

distrusts
disturb
disturbance
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Cite this Entry

“Disturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturb. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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