1
as in bothers
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 removes
to change the place or position of
the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone
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3
as in disrupts
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 worries
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
sorry to disturb you while you're working
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5
as in weighs
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 disturbs
Currently comprising more than 8,300 active satellites, the Starlink constellation also disturbs radio telescope observations.
—
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbs
Verb
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Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?—
Time,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
-
What bothers her most is how the refusal seemed to change her brother’s behavior.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As of Friday, the economists are looking for a 3% year-over-year rise in the core PCE index, which removes volatile food and energy prices.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
21 Sep. 2025
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His parents anxiously sat by Bennett's bedside after he was put on an ECMO machine, which removes carbon dioxide and oxygenates blood to be sent back to the body.—
Greta Bjornson,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fall fatigue is often linked to the decrease in sunlight, which disrupts your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) and can lower serotonin levels, a key mood-regulating hormone.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Creating a hostile environment that disrupts the event or puts others at risk.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bechand is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs approximately 180 pounds and has hazel eyes and brown hair, police said.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
17 Sep. 2025
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Plus, a propensity for porpoising down straightaways and under mild braking hinted at perhaps further refinement needed—not ideal for a car with such a unique suspension setup as its calling card, but that somehow weighs around 1,500 pounds more than the racecar that shares so many components.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This might mean dropping a product line that’s profitable but distracts from your core business, or saying no to a good opportunity that isn’t aligned with your growth strategy.—
Minna Hu,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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And best of all, the mirror distracts guests from registering that there’s a coat hanger hiding ‘round back.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That could mean preserving the Seaquarium’s aquarium as an attraction while the Dolphin Company relocates or sells to competitors the dolphins, sea lions and other mammals that have long been the stars of the park.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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In real estate, a neighborhood can be overlooked for years until a new transit line opens or a major employer relocates nearby.—
Jack Mullen,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Without it, greenwashing confuses customers and slows adoption.—
Marianne Lehnis,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Yes, God confuses the language and scatters everyone, thereby creating linguistic and cultural diversity.—
John Fugelsang
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In visceral and unrelenting prose, the novel troubles the easy distinctions between victim and perpetrator.—
Katie Kitamura
August 21,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
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Notwithstanding, firing Erika McEntarfer troubles me greatly.—
Phillip Molnar,
Mercury News,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disturbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbs. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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