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
Over the last year, labor tensions over minimum wages and working conditions have intensified over the past year, even as global consumption patterns disrupted orders.
—
Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 16 Feb. 2026
The question is no longer whether AI belongs in education, but how efficiently schools can accommodate it without disrupting daily operations.
—Liz Shulman, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Transporting that heating oil also has been disrupted along the Connecticut shoreline because harbors have temporarily frozen, forcing some home heating oil supplies to seek alternatives out of state, Herb said.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
That’s because Ukraine, despite not having a conventional navy, has been disrupting Russian shipping using a variety of drones, both airborne and seaborne.
—David Szondy
february 15, New Atlas, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 16 Feb. 2026
The question is no longer whether AI belongs in education, but how efficiently schools can accommodate it without disrupting daily operations.
—Liz Shulman, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Transporting that heating oil also has been disrupted along the Connecticut shoreline because harbors have temporarily frozen, forcing some home heating oil supplies to seek alternatives out of state, Herb said.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
That’s because Ukraine, despite not having a conventional navy, has been disrupting Russian shipping using a variety of drones, both airborne and seaborne.
—David Szondy
february 15, New Atlas, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupt
Verb
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Hubbard broke the school record for career three-pointers made by sinking four at Ole Miss.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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The agency also released identifying details about the suspect who was caught on camera trying to break into Nancy Guthrie’s home.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mist the soil instead of overhead watering, which can disturb the seeds.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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Managing the genetic health of such a small population is essential for the species’ long-term viability, and the hair-collection method offers a noninvasive way to gather vital data without disturbing the wombats in their burrows.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Adults who should be home caring for their children are constantly being removed, fracturing families through continual arrests.—
Emily Galvin Almanza,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
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The accident fractured Canter’s skull in four places.—
Eddie Pells,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The citizens of Texas are confusing hospitality for complacency.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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To give my permission to be sad, to be angry, to be confused.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shipwreck hunters have been searching the lakes with more urgency in recent years out of concerns that invasive quagga mussels are slowly destroying wrecks.—
Todd Richmond,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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However, archaeologists faced a significant challenge—how to penetrate its secrets without destroying it in the process?—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That left the Broncos with no option but to grab their bags and shuffle along the final icy stretch before reaching the safety of indoors.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
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To use Smith at the top of the lineup would likely require the Rangers to shuffle the leadoff hitter against lefties, thus creating more moving parts.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Upon his arrival, Thaksin was sentenced to eight years in prison on earlier corruption convictions, a term swiftly reduced to one year following a royal pardon.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Cutting convoy risk Army planners see cargo drones as a way to reduce dependence on traditional resupply convoys.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The closet is probably the easiest room to ignore when things get disorganized.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
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Iraqi units were so demoralized and disorganized that, in one now-famous incident, a group of soldiers surrendered to an unmanned Pioneer drone.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupt. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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