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
Relevance
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
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 disrupt
On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia should be concerned about the parade, which Russian outlets said suggested that Kyiv was looking to disrupt the event.
—
Brendan Cole
yevgeny Kuklychev, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The theory behind the method is that many skin-care products can strip the skin of its natural oils, disrupt its pH balance, and alter its natural microbiome.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
In response, the US has tried to disrupt the Houthis’ capabilities by going after their primary weapons, and by destroying maritime drones and underwater drones.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
When someone has it, their immune system goes into overdrive, producing more antibodies (or immunoglobulins, hence the name) than necessary that disrupt typical organ function.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Brendan Cole
yevgeny Kuklychev, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The theory behind the method is that many skin-care products can strip the skin of its natural oils, disrupt its pH balance, and alter its natural microbiome.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
In response, the US has tried to disrupt the Houthis’ capabilities by going after their primary weapons, and by destroying maritime drones and underwater drones.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
When someone has it, their immune system goes into overdrive, producing more antibodies (or immunoglobulins, hence the name) than necessary that disrupt typical organ function.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupt
Verb
-
But Sentry breaks free from her control and then, fueled by Bob's repressed emotions, transforms into a shadowy figure called The Void, putting New York City and our heroes in dire straits.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
The world’s best reeled off 17 points in a row against Gauff to lead 4-1 in the first set, but the second proved a classic battle of willpower with the American going 5-3 up before her opponent finally broke at the fifth time of asking.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
-
No doubt, climate change threatens to muck it all up, disturbing patterns that have existed for centuries.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
28 Apr. 2025
-
This tactic—arresting judges for their courtroom decisions—has disturbing echoes in other countries where judicial independence has been undermined: in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkey, and in other places where democracy has given way to executive supremacy.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
This means evaluating not just what was delivered but how it was delivered and whether that process reinforced or fractured the culture along the way.—
Mary Hemphill, PhD,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
That’s more optimistic than I had been based on other players who fractured their tibias and typically required 4-5 months to return.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
However, simply getting older doesn’t equate to consistently missing bills or appointments, having a hard time speaking with people, or feeling lost or confused in places that are familiar to you.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
To allow these courts to be destroyed to make pickleball courts is just wrong.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2025
-
Are the Fantastic Four escaping their universe after the planet-devouring villain Galactus destroys their world?—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
In recent months though, and as the weather’s picked up, another style of jeans has been shuffling their way onto our moodboards.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
-
No more shuffling through your wallet for cash or a credit card.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Answer: Your withdrawals from retirement plans won’t reduce your Social Security directly.—
Liz Weston,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
-
The trial of estrogen alone also raised safety concerns, though both types of therapy reduced the risk of bone fractures.—
Jean Wactawski-Wende,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Large models often scrape raw training data from the internet, and this data can be disorganized, messy, and hard to process.—
Stephen Ornes,
Wired News,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Large models often scrape raw training data from the internet, and this data can be disorganized, messy and hard to process.—
Stephen Ornes,
Quanta Magazine,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupt. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share