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
There was also a significant rebound in enterprise software following a couple of ugly sessions late last week on concerns that AI will disrupt the group.
—
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
Solar flares, intense bursts of energy in the sun's atmosphere, can trigger radio blackouts on Earth by increasing ionization in the upper atmosphere, which disrupts radio signals.
—Ryan French, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Le Carré’s work defined the espionage genre but also disrupted it, turned it on its head.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
The move could disrupt instruction for more than 400,000 students across the nation’s second-largest district.
—Madeline Armstrong, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
Solar flares, intense bursts of energy in the sun's atmosphere, can trigger radio blackouts on Earth by increasing ionization in the upper atmosphere, which disrupts radio signals.
—Ryan French, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Le Carré’s work defined the espionage genre but also disrupted it, turned it on its head.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
The move could disrupt instruction for more than 400,000 students across the nation’s second-largest district.
—Madeline Armstrong, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupt
Verb
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The Bruins later broke the mark for the most players drafted from one team when Charlisse Leger-Walker was selected by Connecticut with the third pick in the second round.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The Toronto Maple Leafs aim to break a six-game skid with a win over the Ottawa Senators.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 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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Smith said after talking to Gregg, Wheels Up reduced the price to $850, but storage fees for having the car since April 1 bring the grand total to at least $2,600.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Much like Vietnam, only a lot faster, the American war in Iran has reduced itself to saving face.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 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 16 Apr. 2026.
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