1
as in annoying
causing annoyance
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
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2
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment
there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name
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3
as in unsettling
causing worry or anxiety
a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption
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4
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery
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1
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
all that talk of war disturbed us
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2
as in removing
to change the place or position of
the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone
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3
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move
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4
as in bothering
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
sorry to disturb you while you're working
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5
as in troubling
to cause discomfort to or trouble for
please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disturbing
Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This was likely not the first disturbing video these children had encountered, of course, nor the first act of political violence that had appeared on their feeds.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
In 2020, 13-year-old Lauryn Licari and her middle-school boyfriend, Owen McKenny, started getting constant graphic and disturbing messages from an unknown number out of the blue.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
Regrettably, what could have been a teaching moment for faculty members — one to educate students about freedom of expression, respect and civility — was missed, and instead reflected a disturbing side of humanity.
—Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This was likely not the first disturbing video these children had encountered, of course, nor the first act of political violence that had appeared on their feeds.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
After Spencer and Mosley were arrested, disturbing details began emerging about the abuse the girl had allegedly suffered since 2018.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
In 2020, 13-year-old Lauryn Licari and her middle-school boyfriend, Owen McKenny, started getting constant graphic and disturbing messages from an unknown number out of the blue.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
-
Don’t be mad at me for saying so, but from the buyer’s side, your ads are likely annoying.—
Renae Gregoire,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The argument for quarterly reporting is that efficient and fair public markets require transparency, no matter how annoying that may be to executives who have to pay people to do the actual compliance, accounting and public-relations work around that report four times a year.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Other newborns were given away by their grandparents who conspired with doctors, priests and nuns to hide a daughter’s socially embarrassing pregnancy.—
Rafael Romo,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Fear of failure Failure can be disheartening, embarrassing and often downright devastating — especially in entrepreneurship, when your reputation and finances could be on the line.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The experience has been unsettling.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
But there’s something genuinely unsettling about watching Katherine get stalked by the bubbles from her bath or the room itself somehow teleport around the hotel; if nothing else, the suite is certainly one of the season’s more unusual villains.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Earlier this year, Stewart admitted the thought left him uneasy.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This stirs an uneasy thought in the astrobiologist’s mind.—
Dirk Schulze-Makuch,
Big Think,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Aaron Glenn has a defensive background, serving as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2021 to 2024, so the Jets' defensive struggles have been alarming so far.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The tackling was alarming enough that the Broncos were practicing on Monday with live tackles, something that’s not seen too often once the season starts.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Inside the metal carry case, there’s the dermaplaning Facial Razor, complete with one handle and three durable stainless-steel blades that offer delicate precision when removing peach fuzz and dead skin cells.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps your direct manager has been cold over Slack lately, removing you from important assignments or emails.—
Julia Sullivan,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Both sides dramatically hiked tariffs against each other during a months-long dispute earlier this year, disrupting global supply chains.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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The importance of this ideological unity is all the more apparent as global conflicts intensify, disrupting global trade in the process.—
Koray Köse,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There's other important bathroom etiquette travelers should keep in mind to avoid bothering flight attendants.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Lead with Gratitude and Grace Calling out someone for bothering you is always tricky.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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