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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disrupts
Going to bed and waking at wildly different times disrupts circadian rhythm even when total hours look adequate on paper.
—
Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026
This cycle disrupts weather patterns globally, including in Chicago.
—David Yeomans, CBS News, 19 May 2026
According to the research team, formic acid acts as a solvent that temporarily disrupts the protein interaction—holding the fibers together—without altering the proteins themselves.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
Each event disrupts sleep architecture and drops oxygen levels, leaving people exhausted, foggy and at higher long-term risk for cardiovascular disease.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Chronic psychological stress elevates cortisol and disrupts healing.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Wildlife relies on predictable patterns of darkness and light for migration, breeding and hunting, and artificial light disrupts those cycles.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
Residents say another invasive plant, Eichhornia crassipes, which floats on the water’s surface, has long been present in the lagoon and also disrupts fishing and transport, though its impact has been less sudden.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
But chronic stress disrupts that pattern.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 12 May 2026
Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026
This cycle disrupts weather patterns globally, including in Chicago.
—David Yeomans, CBS News, 19 May 2026
According to the research team, formic acid acts as a solvent that temporarily disrupts the protein interaction—holding the fibers together—without altering the proteins themselves.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
Each event disrupts sleep architecture and drops oxygen levels, leaving people exhausted, foggy and at higher long-term risk for cardiovascular disease.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Chronic psychological stress elevates cortisol and disrupts healing.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Wildlife relies on predictable patterns of darkness and light for migration, breeding and hunting, and artificial light disrupts those cycles.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
Residents say another invasive plant, Eichhornia crassipes, which floats on the water’s surface, has long been present in the lagoon and also disrupts fishing and transport, though its impact has been less sudden.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
But chronic stress disrupts that pattern.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupts
Verb
-
Harbaugh breaks the tie narrowly by outmanaging Titans boss Robert Saleh.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Dahlia, a disillusioned police aide, breaks into the mansion of the corrupt police chief Bernal and steals the money from his safe, unloading the funds to slum dwellers whose settlement Bernal razed down.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The worms thrash and move erratically with a snake-like motion that disturbs the topsoil.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
There are lots of things weightlessness disturbs, even in the short run.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After hundreds to thousands of years, the feeding black hole or neutron star falls into the stellar core and destroys it, creating a luminous emission.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
Federal debt destroys wealth and impedes economic growth.—
Rose Evans
May 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Nobody ever confuses two white NASCAR drivers!—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
And Mary’s electric, palpably physical pursuit of justice becomes even more crucial in the final act, after a grotesque display of performative mockery toward Māori culture fractures the last remnants of civility present amid one of Cole’s lavish-yet-repulsive gatherings.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
-
What fractures globalized production naturally results in higher prices just as what integrates global production naturally results in lower prices.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
At the sound of morning prayers, an older Clarissa awakens from this dream and shuffles out to her lawn, where the leafy bush has been replaced with the industrial skyline of Lagos.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The system enables closed-loop recycling, which extends material life cycles and reduces cotton emissions and pollution.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
-
Oatmeal's beta-glucan fiber helps curb hunger, supports weight loss, and reduces harmful visceral fat.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The skin stretches out and disintegrates, posing a risk of limb amputation.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
-
The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disrupts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupts. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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