1
as in breaking
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
an earthquake that had disrupted the elevated highway in several places
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shuffling
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the arrival of a baby in the household would totally disrupt their established routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 disrupting
In addition to disrupting the students’ routines, parents said the school closure forced them to scramble to make child care arrangements.
—
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
And the light from screens can affect your circadian rhythm, disrupting your sleep.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Over time, chemical applications reduce the biodiversity of the outdoor environment, as well as disrupting natural processes that keep pests in check.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Published with our TechLine newsletter, Rendering will examine how artificial intelligence is disrupting the entertainment industry, taking you inside key battlegrounds and spotlighting change makers wielding the technology for good and ill.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
The property was sold to a new owner, who plans to create residences on the site, meaning there will be construction disrupting business at the store.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
The risk of disrupting a pacemaker is negligible.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Shortages have been widespread across the country in places like Chicago, Denver, Houston and Newark causing ground delays and disrupting passengers.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
The beetles feed under the bark for up to two years, disrupting the flow of nutrients through the tree.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
And the light from screens can affect your circadian rhythm, disrupting your sleep.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Over time, chemical applications reduce the biodiversity of the outdoor environment, as well as disrupting natural processes that keep pests in check.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Published with our TechLine newsletter, Rendering will examine how artificial intelligence is disrupting the entertainment industry, taking you inside key battlegrounds and spotlighting change makers wielding the technology for good and ill.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
The property was sold to a new owner, who plans to create residences on the site, meaning there will be construction disrupting business at the store.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
The risk of disrupting a pacemaker is negligible.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Shortages have been widespread across the country in places like Chicago, Denver, Houston and Newark causing ground delays and disrupting passengers.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
The beetles feed under the bark for up to two years, disrupting the flow of nutrients through the tree.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupting
Verb
-
His most recent stop before Arkansas was in Baltimore, Maryland, as a night and breaking news editor.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But the breaking bagel news is that Dallas cult favorite Shug’s is in the early stage of planning a west Fort Worth bagel bakery and sandwich shop.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So, if the Phillies were to target Bichette, there would be some sort of shuffling in the infield.—
Patrick McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In 2022, Kelsey pleaded guilty to illegally shuffling money from his state Senate campaign account to his federal congressional campaign account.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In early October, the former reality star shared with her fans that her dog ran into her, fracturing her leg.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
This discovery ultimately ends up completely fracturing the Dark Hearts.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The 34-year-old appeared to have deactivated her X account after disturbing posts on her account resurfaced online.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
There was also disturbing evidence that violence had occurred there.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And candidates who stoked fear in voters — with the threat of towering multi-family complexes destroying their communities or costly local infrastructure projects driving up taxes — lost by clear margins.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Derek Lopez, 27, was fired from his role at the university after he was caught on camera destroying a Turning Point display.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Perplexity’s image features photographs of people with some truly nightmarish distortions on its wall, while the placement of its sink is confusing and distracting.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 Oct. 2025
-
This was out of respect for me, and also to avoid confusing the children.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Under the new terms of the license, Chevron was authorized to pay fees and royalties to Venezuela in oil but not in cash, effectively reducing Chevron’s crude exports from the country by half, according to Reuters.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The initiative’s foundation addresses the problem of inconsistent and burdensome reporting by engaging the industry to define an optional (and non-exhaustive) questionnaire aimed at strengthening data quality and consistency while significantly reducing the administrative burden on suppliers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Next up is a visit to the 3-6 Charlotte Hornets, who the Lakers may remember upsetting them in Los Angeles after February’s botched trade deadline fiasco involving Dalton Knecht and then-Hornets center Mark Williams.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Canada was gripped by the World Series last month and early in November as the Blue Jays, the country’s only MLB team, came agonizingly close to upsetting the Dodgers juggernaut.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disrupting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupting. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share