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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
Lewi said the shows are tied together by themes of disquiet. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025 For their part, workers who can't seem to quiet their own disquiet can incorporate self-care practices into their daily personal and professional routines. Jeffrey Marcus, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
David also was disquieted by his brother’s familiarity with the places that had been targeted by the Unabomber. Steve Chawkins, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2023 His Blackness disquieted the American ideals and sensibilities that proclaim us all equal. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 26 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for disquiet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disquiet
Noun
  • The emotional emptiness can feel unbearable, and the practical demands only add to the turmoil, often leaving the surviving spouse feeling lost and helpless.
    David Kudla, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Bob Vander Weide, then team president and son-in-law to Rich DeVos, was on the outs — the casualty of a divorce from the owner’s daughter and a franchise in turmoil.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • This has increased concern over escalating rhetoric and the possibility that individual actors will feel compelled to take matters into their own hands.
    Odette Yousef, NPR, 21 June 2025
  • On both the commercial, as well as the military side, the ability to deliver against order books was a paramount concern due to the ongoing ramp in commercial deliveries, and the shortfalls in munitions and missiles from wars in Ukraine and the mid-East.
    Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • The man, wearing a black polo and slacks, looked up from a table saw, alarmed.
    Dan Greene, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • The potential downside of glucose monitoring is that people who are (perhaps needlessly) alarmed by their CGM data will swap out healthy carbs such as fruit and whole grains for foods that are less healthy—butter, for example, or bacon and red meat.
    Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • The Trump administration has pardoned all Jan. 6 protesters and has taken actions against those who prosecuted them for a variety of allegations connected to the unrest.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
  • With features like blast-resistant walls, ballistic glass and rapid evacuation elevators, Aerie is built to handle everything from civil unrest to the most extreme emergencies.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • And any fear—and hence bigger discounts—caused by overwrought debt worries just makes our opportunity even sweeter.
    Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • The fear, in fact, is that our continual need to standardize will modernize ourselves out of existence.
    Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Concerns about student overuse and misuse are still prevalent: About half of teachers worry that student use of AI will decrease teens’ ability to think critically and independently or to have persistence when problem solving, according to the study.
    Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 25 June 2025
  • After studies had linked chronic exposure to high levels of mercury found in fish and whale blubber to developmental delays, scientists began to worry about the element’s effects on the young brain.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • Despite the stark beauty in one of the state's most productive agricultural regions, there's a sense of unease among the community's leaders as Congress debates a budget bill that could radically reshape Medicaid, the government health program for low-income people.
    John Daley, NPR, 22 June 2025
  • Then again, the Justices’ unease about whether children and adolescents can genuinely consent to life-altering treatments would be lacking in the case of adults.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • An earlier 2019 study in Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance found turbulence, unfamiliar aircraft noises, and the threat of terror attacks were among the top anxiety triggers.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • Too much attention, often understandably driven by shareholder and financial analyst anxiety, is being placed on the lagging indicators of current performance.
    Paul Laudicina, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disquiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disquiet. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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