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Definition of disquietnext
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disquiet

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verb

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
Pluribus is all percolator, less interested in moving through story than in reacquainting us with the thrill of watching something unfold, the disquiet that comes from sitting too long with a feeling, and the strange clarity that emerges when your brain syncs to its rhythm. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025 That hints at the wider disquiet percolating in France. Alexander Smith, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
In fact, the energy is disquieting and distracting to you. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025 Vessel’s lyrics seem disquieted by the attention, though. August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for disquiet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disquiet
Noun
  • Iran’s leaders have repeatedly threatened to intervene more forcefully to choke off oil supplies; regime change there could have a similar outcome, if the resulting internal turmoil disrupts production.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Her win itself was born from that turmoil.
    Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors said county staffers raised concerns about the organization with their supervisors.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The members of the council understand that the disarray wrought by Clark’s departure and the lingering concerns about Meyer could be exploited by the owners during bargaining sessions.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The boys did not wield weapons or threaten anyone, but their brash and rowdy behavior alarmed some of the other passengers.
    Michael Bobelian, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
  • An Indian colleague was alarmed by the praise for colonialism.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Iran used overwhelming force against the protesters to clear people out of the streets, but also to buy the government time by preventing any future waves of unrest, said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Washington think tank.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Officials in law enforcement have said the number of police applicants looking to join a police force never quite rebounded since unrest around the nation led to protests and demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That puts the fear of God into him.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The Showtime Lakers faced those fears and overcame them.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Anyone worried about corporate takeover was put at ease from day one.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The crowded field has some Democrats worried about the possibility of both Hilton and Bianco making it into the runoff, shutting out the party that has controlled the Governor’s Office since 2011 if Democrats split the vote.
    Grace Hase, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As each skated and waited for their scores to post, the crowd tittered with nervous unease.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
  • And at that point, ushered into the floating mists of non-consensus with murmurings of political unease regarding content or intellectual befuddlement regarding style, the briefly sighted, singular beast of language vanishes from the visible landscape.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Tobacco parallels The Los Angeles trial centers on allegations made by a 20-year-old woman, Kaley, and her mother that four social media giants intentionally designed addictive platforms that hooked her as a child and led to mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The lurch from confidence to anxiety has been a key reason Villa have not held their nerve in some supposedly easier fixtures.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disquiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disquiet. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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