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disrupt

verb dis·rupt \ dis-ˈrəpt \
|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018
transitive verb
1 a : to break apart : rupture
  • three periods of faulting disrupted the rocks
  • —University of Arizona Record
b : to throw into disorder
  • demonstrators trying to disrupt the meeting
2 : to interrupt the normal course or unity of
  • … disrupted a bridge game by permanently hiding up the ace of spades …
  • —Scott Fitzgerald
  • can disrupt an industry with new technology
—

disrupter

also disruptor noun
—

disruption

play \-ˈrəp-shən\ noun
—

disruptive

play \-ˈrəp-tiv\ adjective
—

disruptively

adverb
—

disruptiveness

noun

See disrupt defined for English-language learners

See disrupt defined for kids

Examples of disrupt in a Sentence

  1. The barking dogs disrupted my sleep.

  2. The weather disrupted our travel plans.

  3. a chemical that disrupts cell function

Recent Examples of disrupt from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disrupt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of disrupt

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

disrupt Synonyms

Synonyms

confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, disturb, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset;

Antonyms

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

Near Antonyms

align (also aline), line, line up, queue;

classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize;

adjust, fix;

groom, make up, spruce (up);

unscramble;

Related Words

embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle;

agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle;

clutter;

DISRUPT Defined for English Language Learners

disrupt

verb

  • : to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way : to interrupt the normal progress or activity of (something)

DISRUPT Defined for Kids

disrupt

verb dis·rupt \ dis-ˈrəpt \
disrupted; disrupting
1 : to cause disorder in
  • disrupted the class
2 : to interrupt the normal course of
  • Barking dogs disrupted my sleep.
—

disruption

\dis-ˈrəp-shən\ noun
—

disruptive

\-ˈrəp-tiv\ adjective

Learn More about disrupt

  1. See words that rhyme with disrupt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for disrupt Spanish Central: Translation of disrupt Nglish: Translation of disrupt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of disrupt for Arabic speakers

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