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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

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
Kamaru’s album, unlike more conventionally soothing strains of ambient music, reflected that thrumming sense of disquiet. Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 21 Feb. 2026 There’s understandably a lot of disquiet, as he is now viewed as a total pariah. Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
This is NDiaye at her disquieting best. Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025 The combination of quavering flutes and solemn, unfamiliar corridors is disquieting. Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disquiet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disquiet
Noun
  • Twelve destinies searching for peace and belonging, while the house remains a haven through decades of turmoil.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Others aren’t so sure, pointing to the long hiatus, the off-screen turmoil and a television landscape that no longer moves in lockstep.
    Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Even before the Iran war sent gas prices soaring, many Americans were still recovering from the pandemic-era inflation spike and continued to cite affordability as a major concern.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Another Antarctic species -- the Southern elephant seal -- is also now at risk of extinction due to bird flu, moving from least concern to vulnerable, according to researchers.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Aside from the primary deficit, economists are also alarmed by the interest payments now required to service the debt—estimated to come in at more than $1 trillion this year.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The Rajput rulers of the Shivalik Hills, alarmed by the growing Sikh influence in the region, had sought Aurangzeb’s assistance after failed attempts to dislodge the Guru from Anandpur, Punjab.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Another trend was that police arrested or charged at least 59 people due to unrest at school board meetings from May 2021 through November 2022.
    Carrie Sampson, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The threat of civil unrest hung over the final days of voting.
    Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Nearly a quarter of New Orleans residents live in poverty, and the prospect of a substantial windfall for a few hours’ work apparently outweighed any fear of getting into a car that was about to take part in a high-speed accident.
    Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Esther says Kim had shared her fear of Terry Rose well before her disappearance.
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But Murray worries about upholding his best friend’s wishes.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Horner also talked about being concerned about losing his job, wanting to see his child and worrying about what was going to happen to him, Espinoza said.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That feeling can present in many ways — rumination, a knot in your throat or your chest, an unease in your stomach, the tensing of muscles.
    Goth Shakira Contributing, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • John Maynard Keynes famously predicted in the 1930s that by 2030, a 15-hour work week would be possible—and then asked, with obvious unease, what people would do with all that free time.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Last year’s Public Service Commission flips were a blaring warning sign in a cycle dominated by voter anxiety over affordability and utility costs.
    Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 12 Apr. 2026
  • For weeks, Hilton and Bianco have led polls while eight prominent Democrats including Swalwell split the support of liberal voters, stoking anxiety among Democrats that the party could end up shut out of the November election.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disquiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disquiet. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

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