disrupt

dis·rupt

transitive verb \dis-ˈrəpt\

Definition of DISRUPT

1

a : to break apart : rupture

b : to throw into disorder <agitators trying to disrupt the meeting>

2

: to interrupt the normal course or unity of

— dis·rupt·er noun

— dis·rup·tion \-ˈrəp-shən\ noun

— dis·rup·tive \-ˈrəp-tiv\ adjective

— dis·rup·tive·ly adverb

— dis·rup·tive·ness noun

Examples of DISRUPT

1. The barking dogs disrupted my sleep.
2. The weather disrupted our travel plans.
3. a chemical that disrupts cell function

Origin of DISRUPT

Latin disruptus, past participle of disrumpere, from dis- + rumpere to break — more at reave

First Known Use: 1793

Related to DISRUPT

Synonyms

break up, bust, distintegrate, dismember, break, fracture, fragment, rive

Antonyms

arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy

Related Words

atomize, crush, grind, powder, pulverize, reduce; blast, blow up, burst, detonate, explode; crack, pop, shatter, shiver, smash; chip, sliver, splinter, split; implode; destroy, ruin, wreck

Near Antonyms

doctor, fix, heal, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair

Rhymes with DISRUPT

abrupt, bankrupt, corrupt, erupt, irrupt