1
as in to break
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
an earthquake that had disrupted the elevated highway in several places
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disturb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the arrival of a baby in the household would totally disrupt their established routine
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disrupt
Additionally, 77 percent of growers rotate crops, disrupting pest cycles, building soil health and diversifying farm income for a more stable system.
—
Sj Studio, Footwear News, 6 Apr. 2026
The widening war in the Middle East has severely disrupted their livelihoods, with some migrant workers also reported killed or injured in airstrikes.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
This approach allowed construction to take place without disrupting railway services, which is typically a major challenge for infrastructure upgrades.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
The Iran war will continue to disrupt global oil supplies even if a ceasefire in the region leads to a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a new analysis.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Sj Studio, Footwear News, 6 Apr. 2026
The widening war in the Middle East has severely disrupted their livelihoods, with some migrant workers also reported killed or injured in airstrikes.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
This approach allowed construction to take place without disrupting railway services, which is typically a major challenge for infrastructure upgrades.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
The Iran war will continue to disrupt global oil supplies even if a ceasefire in the region leads to a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a new analysis.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupt
Verb
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Jake Burger hit a tie-breaking RBI double over the outstretched glove of left fielder Randy Arozarena in the sixth inning, Jacob deGrom and five Texas relievers combined for a two-hitter and the Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Monday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The head coach of Michigan men’s basketball finally broke into a wide smile during the final seconds, holding a lone finger in the air at the end.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In such environments, gravitational encounters can pair black holes together or disturb existing pairs, leading to the mixed spin orientations and more complex motion seen in the data.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
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Werner said there is one charge, an accusation of participating in an encampment that disturbed university operations, which violates the faculty code of conduct.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Much like in a civil war, the group fractured into two.—
Jason P. Dinh,
Scientific American,
9 Apr. 2026
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In the four years since its previous season, though, Hollywood has endured dual labor strikes, streamers have tightened budgets and audiences have fractured into increasingly niche viewing habits.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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The threats have left operators confused and frozen, unwilling to attempt passage, due to safety fears and uncertainty about Iran's new fee system.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All the State Forensic Authority’s DNA analysis labs were looted and destroyed in the fighting.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
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But now with factories, energy facilities, bridges and railways destroyed—leaving many Iranians unemployed—conditions have gotten worse.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Born from the embers of the eighties band Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, led by the singer and guitarist Amelia Fletcher, shuffled forward with her riffy, effervescent playing style, gradually growing more sophisticated across four LPs and an EP, without any loss of buoyancy.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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This is where the city stages its daily open-air show — street artists sketching portraits, fortune-tellers shuffling cards and musicians playing for appreciative crowds.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Global oil supply has reduced by 13%, according to the IMF, while severe damage has been done to other critical supply chains.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
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But government hunting programs and other efforts to reduce their numbers as the human population grew led to the local extinction, or extirpation, of the animals from California more than a century ago.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These clips spread rapidly online, reinforcing a perception that mobilization is coercive, disorganized, and unjust.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Cornhuskers got within three on a second-chance 3 by Braden Frager, but they were disorganized on the inbounds play, leaving Folgueiras unguarded near the rim.—
Kristie Rieken,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupt. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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