perturb
per·turb
verb \pər-ˈtərb\Definition of PERTURB
transitive verb
1
: to cause to be worried or upset : disquiet
2
: to throw into confusion : disorder
3
: to cause to experience a perturbation
— per·turb·able \-ˈtər-bə-bəl\ adjective
Examples of PERTURB
- It perturbed him that his son was thinking about leaving school.
- <the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night>
Origin of PERTURB
Middle English, from Middle French perturber, from Latin perturbare to throw into confusion, from per- + turbare to disturb — more at turbid
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to PERTURB
Related Words: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy (or chivvy), exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve
See Synonym Discussion at discompose
Rhymes with PERTURB
Learn More About PERTURB
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