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
The latest exchange marks another attempt to revive negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war, which has severely disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply passes.
—
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 11 May 2026
Gray’s progress has been disrupted by Tottenham’s injury crisis over the last two seasons.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 11 May 2026
From late-night basslines to early-morning scraping chairs, cabin noise can disrupt any voyage.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Counter-drone systems were another major focus, with Chinese companies displaying technologies designed to detect, disrupt and neutralise hostile unmanned aircraft.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 11 May 2026
Gray’s progress has been disrupted by Tottenham’s injury crisis over the last two seasons.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 11 May 2026
From late-night basslines to early-morning scraping chairs, cabin noise can disrupt any voyage.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Counter-drone systems were another major focus, with Chinese companies displaying technologies designed to detect, disrupt and neutralise hostile unmanned aircraft.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupt
Verb
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The senior center fielder promptly broke his hamate bone against Lincoln-Way Central.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2026
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Mamdani had spent the preceding weeks observing Ramadan alongside members of the city’s Muslim communities, breaking fast in iftar gatherings with union members or content creators.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The Manta Sleep Mask has adjustable eye cups that create a true blackout, so cabin lights and neighboring seatback screens don’t disturb her rest.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
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Not to mention, harvesting garlic bulbs can disturb the soil quite a bit and interfere with the growth of sage plant roots.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Her head struck the train before she was thrown back onto the platform, fracturing her spine.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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After weeks of suffering, the strain starts to fracture her relationships with family, friends and colleagues.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The red, purple or sometimes gold root vegetable — not to be confused with its white cousin, the sugar beet — is low-calorie and packed with nutrients and compounds linked to benefits, ranging from brain health to athletic performance.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Companion plants with strong odors are used to confuse pests or mask the scent of crops so insect pests cannot find them.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Onions can be used as a companion plant to carrots to keep away the destructive carrot fly, a pest that can stunt the growth of carrots and even destroy entire plantings.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2026
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If an Entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or destroyed, entrant’s sole remedy shall be another entry into the Sweepstakes.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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MotoGP also had to shuffle its schedule due to the conflict in the Middle East, postponing the Qatar Grand Prix to November.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
7 May 2026
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But sometimes, simply shuffling the pieces can help, in our view.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Earlier that year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a sweeping climate change bill with an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, 70% by 2040, and to achieve economy-wide net-zero levels by 2050.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Likewise, in building communities, there must be a priority on preserving green spaces, creating walkable neighborhoods to reduce traffic and car emissions, intentionally designating areas for wildlife habitats, and prioritizing quality of life through parks, trails, and conservation areas.—
Sammy Duda,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Verb
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People who are disorganized across the board also exist.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
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Krajewski said the communication felt disorganized.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupt. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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