Entry Word: disturb

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <all that talk of war disturbed us>

Synonyms agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distract, distress, exercise, freak (out), perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry

Related Words aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit

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

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

2 to change the place or position of <the items on her desk had been disturbed> — see move 1
3 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move> — see disorder
4 to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation <sorry to disturb you while youʼre working> — see bother 1
5 to cause discomfort to or trouble for <the noisy lawnmower disturbed their sleep> — see inconvenience