DISQUIET Synonyms: 192 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'disquiet' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disquiet are agitate , discompose , disturb , fluster , perturb , and upset . While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind. // the disquieting news of factories closing

Q: In what contexts can 'agitate' take the place of 'disquiet'?

While the synonyms agitate and disquiet are close in meaning, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement. // in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

Q: When might 'discompose' be a better fit than 'disquiet'?

Although the words discompose and disquiet have much in common, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress. // discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

Q: When is 'disturb' a more appropriate choice than 'disquiet'?

The words disturb and disquiet can be used in similar contexts, but disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption. // the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Q: Where would 'fluster' be a reasonable alternative to 'disquiet'?

The meanings of fluster and disquiet largely overlap; however, fluster suggests bewildered agitation. // his declaration of love completely flustered her

Q: When could 'perturb' be used to replace 'disquiet'?

The synonyms perturb and disquiet are sometimes interchangeable, but perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions. // perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

Q: When can 'upset' be used instead of 'disquiet'?

The words upset and disquiet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief. // the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

disquiet 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disquiet

as in turmoil

a disturbed or uneasy state a period of disquiet before the results of the close election were confirmed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in concern

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble was filled with disquiet as the hours passed without any sign of the missing children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disquiet

2 of 2

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈkwī-ət

as in to concern

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy we were disquieted by the strange noises we heard outside our tent at night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disquiet contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disquiet are agitate, discompose, disturb, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

In what contexts can agitate take the place of disquiet?

While the synonyms agitate and disquiet are close in meaning, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When might discompose be a better fit than disquiet?

Although the words discompose and disquiet have much in common, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When is disturb a more appropriate choice than disquiet?

The words disturb and disquiet can be used in similar contexts, but disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Where would fluster be a reasonable alternative to disquiet?

The meanings of fluster and disquiet largely overlap; however, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When could perturb be used to replace disquiet?

The synonyms perturb and disquiet are sometimes interchangeable, but perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

When can upset be used instead of disquiet?

The words upset and disquiet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disquiet

Noun

That disquiet is all merely a footnote now, though. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026 The uncertainties that led to disquiet over nuclear power across the country in the 1970s and 1980s have not gone away but have changed as technology has evolved. — Krisztian Elcsics, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026

Verb

To say that Nicholas did not share his father’s politics is an understatement, but much of his bibliography can be seen as a reckoning with his father’s unsettling career in politics and disquieting legacy. — Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026 The subjects say rending but also disquieting things about killing. — Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disquiet

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disquiet

Noun

Challenges to the studies include cooperation of participants as the outbreak is occurring in an area of armed conflict and political turmoil which could hinder recruitment.

— Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Investing in gold can diversify your portfolio, as it’s seen as a safe-haven investment during times of uncertainty or turmoil and as an inflation hedge.

— Liz Knueven, CNBC, 7 July 2026

Definition of turmoil

Verb

Those measures, however, have alarmed privacy advocates, who argue that age-gating the internet would affect all users — not just children.

— Angela Yang, NBC news, 30 June 2026
That’s alarmed the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents about 400 nurses and staff at two psychiatric hospitals in Sacramento.

— Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 June 2026

Definition of alarm

Noun

Xenophobic unrest in South Africa has become a painful cost of doing business, executives warned, signalling that companies are bracing for prolonged instability in a country eager to draw fresh investment.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
As the train pulls into Srinagar, Kashmir’s capital and a hotbed of the 2019 unrest, Abdul Rasheed Mir is waiting for a local train to his hometown of Qazigund.

— Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 8 July 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

When a massive Sonoma Coast residential development pitch sparked fears that beach access would be lost.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
While adults like Osul are looking for ways to rebuild their own lives, children are learning to live with fear, grief, uncertainty – and how to make sense of the tragedy.

— Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Definition of fear

Verb

The shadow of the war will loom over the upcoming midterm elections in November – something Republicans have privately been worrying about for months amid growing voter discontent over the war.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
The idea has sparked debate, the sources said, with some officials worried that a pause would set back the department’s efforts to hire more police officers and replenish its dwindling ranks.

— Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

To convey the family’s internal unease, Cárdenas landed on a number of devices that were subtle but significant in terms of changing the optics of the series.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
Declassified British documents from the 1960s revealed government unease over the presence of the micronation, as well as eventually shelved plans to bomb it.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026

Definition of unease

Noun

Broglio also hopes that athletes learn to look for symptoms such as anxiety, depression and cognitive issues, because many are very treatable.

— Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
Researchers and psychologists agree that this feeling can fuel anxiety, dissatisfaction, and a constant need to stay connected, for fear of missing an opportunity, an event, or an experience.

— Ana Morales, Vogue, 11 July 2026

Definition of anxiety

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disquiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disquiet. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disquiet

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on disquiet

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes