1
as in breaks
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 disturbs
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
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Recent Examples of disrupts
Experts warn that the war in Iran and the resulting fuel shocks can strain funding and disrupts field operations, hindering global conservation.
—
ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Dyslexia is a learning difference that disrupts how the brain processes written language.
—Ann Bullock, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
The war in Iran has been dubbed the biggest supply shock in the history of the global oil market by the International Energy Agency, as the choking off of Hormuz disrupts a fifth of global oil flows.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Fear of losing a job breaks the psychological contract and disrupts the rewards system between employee and boss, says De Witte.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Caused by intense emotional events, TTS is a rare, temporary condition that weakens the left ventricle and disrupts its normal pumping function.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Vietnam and South Korea signed a range of agreements spanning security, tech innovation and the development of nuclear power plants, underscoring deepening industrial ties as the Iran war disrupts energy markets and global supply chains.
—Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen, Bloomberg, 22 Apr. 2026
Crude oil also disrupts animals’ nervous systems, Grosell added, impairing their senses and ability to navigate, process input, and properly orient themselves in their environment.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Cornstarch disrupts the scent trails ants use to navigate.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Dyslexia is a learning difference that disrupts how the brain processes written language.
—Ann Bullock, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
The war in Iran has been dubbed the biggest supply shock in the history of the global oil market by the International Energy Agency, as the choking off of Hormuz disrupts a fifth of global oil flows.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Fear of losing a job breaks the psychological contract and disrupts the rewards system between employee and boss, says De Witte.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Caused by intense emotional events, TTS is a rare, temporary condition that weakens the left ventricle and disrupts its normal pumping function.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Vietnam and South Korea signed a range of agreements spanning security, tech innovation and the development of nuclear power plants, underscoring deepening industrial ties as the Iran war disrupts energy markets and global supply chains.
—Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen, Bloomberg, 22 Apr. 2026
Crude oil also disrupts animals’ nervous systems, Grosell added, impairing their senses and ability to navigate, process input, and properly orient themselves in their environment.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Cornstarch disrupts the scent trails ants use to navigate.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupts
Verb
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The acetic acid in vinegar breaks the bond between the dye molecules and the fabric fibers.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
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This guide breaks it down, from longtime institutions to the must-try dishes, along with the history that helps explain why Kansas City barbecue holds such a special place in American food culture.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The worms thrash and move erratically with a snake-like motion that disturbs the topsoil.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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There are lots of things weightlessness disturbs, even in the short run.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sprinkle dill over your food after cooking, as heat destroys its flavor.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
30 Apr. 2026
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Cody Rhodes destroys ‘outside forces’ in scathing promo Cody Rhodes’ promos in the midst of Pat McAfee’s insertion into his WrestleMania feud with Randy Orton blurred the line on what was real and what was kayfabe.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The odor masks the scent of animals' preferred vegetables and confuses insect pests, including aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms and loopers, spider mites, thrips, and Japanese beetles.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
3 May 2026
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The low-performing chefs are Rhoda, whose lamb confuses the kids; Sherry, whose grits were oddly flavored; and Oscar, whose puff pastry soaked up all the deep-fryer oil.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Asking them to leapfrog to low-carbon pathways while denying them finance, technology, and infrastructure undermines trust and fractures global cooperation—the very cooperation climate action depends on.—
Damilola Ogunbiyi,
Time,
19 Mar. 2026
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South America fractures into a puzzle of fjords and channels at the southernmost tip of the continent, the Brunswick Peninsula, in Chile’s Magallanes Region, where the future park will protect temperate rainforests, shrublands, and vast carbon-capturing peat bogs.—
Mark Johanson,
Outside,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
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That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Congress should invest in technology, innovation and infrastructure that reduces wildfire risk, protects water supply and develops cleaner energy that works for California families.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Also, reusing local rubble reduces the carbon emissions from transporting heavy sand and gravel across long distances.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Verb
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But shortly thereafter, its nucleus fragments and quickly disintegrates.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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The café disintegrates, white-peach mimosas lost forever.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disrupts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupts. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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