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

1. It perturbed him that his son was thinking about leaving school.
2. <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

Synonyms: agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, disturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry

Antonyms: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

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

Near Antonyms: allay, alleviate, assuage; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

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See Synonym Discussion at discompose

Rhymes with PERTURB

acerb, adverb, disturb, exurb, potherb, pro-verb, proverb, reverb, suburb, superb