disturbance

disturbance

noun

Definition of DISTURBANCE

1

a state of noisy, confused activity <went to investigate the disturbance outside>

Synonyms ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, clutter [chiefly dialect], coil, corroboree [Australian], disturbance, do [chiefly dialect], foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha (also hoo-hah), hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry (or hurry-skurry), kerfuffle [chiefly British], moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore [Scottish], squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo

Related Words cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar; disorder, unrest, upheaval; eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst; brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee (also mêlée), scuffle; dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy

Near Antonyms calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquillity (or tranquility); order, orderliness

2

an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed <caused a disturbance in the carefully ordered proceedings>

Synonyms derangement, dislocation, disruption, disturbance

Related Words convulsion, revolution, unsettledness, unsettlement, upheaval

3

the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <the assistant apologized for the disturbance and got straight to the point>

Synonyms aggravation, bedevilment, botheration, bothering, bugging, disturbance, harassment, harrying, importunity, pestering, teasing, vexation

Related Words aggro [British], molestation, offense (or offence), persecution, provocation, torment, torture; devilment, devilry, mischief