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
The change also disrupts our internal systems that drive focus and productivity.
—
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
That’s because, sadly, many bat populations have declined in recent years due to factors including habitat loss, wind turbines, and white nose syndrome (WNS), a devastating fungal disease which disrupts their natural hibernation cycles.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
How Microplastics Sneak Into Our Travel Routines Travel often disrupts our daily habits, and hydration is one of the first routines to change.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
Thinning and disappearing sea ice also disrupts Arctic seals’ feeding habits and makes the Arctic more accessible to humans, which further increases the overall risk to these species.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Even as the young man attempts to ignore the din of city life outside his window, his fear of losing his vanity is ultimately what disrupts his fantasies.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
In a recent shining example of self-reflexive satire, Geetanjali Shree’s Tomb of Sand (translated in 2022 from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell), gives us an 80-year-old Indian woman protagonist whose decision to travel to Pakistan disrupts the family’s expectations of women her age.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Pairing incompatible flavors disrupts the harmony of the charcuterie creation.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
But Dale, an uninvited companion, disrupts his final chapter.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
That’s because, sadly, many bat populations have declined in recent years due to factors including habitat loss, wind turbines, and white nose syndrome (WNS), a devastating fungal disease which disrupts their natural hibernation cycles.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
How Microplastics Sneak Into Our Travel Routines Travel often disrupts our daily habits, and hydration is one of the first routines to change.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
Thinning and disappearing sea ice also disrupts Arctic seals’ feeding habits and makes the Arctic more accessible to humans, which further increases the overall risk to these species.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Even as the young man attempts to ignore the din of city life outside his window, his fear of losing his vanity is ultimately what disrupts his fantasies.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
In a recent shining example of self-reflexive satire, Geetanjali Shree’s Tomb of Sand (translated in 2022 from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell), gives us an 80-year-old Indian woman protagonist whose decision to travel to Pakistan disrupts the family’s expectations of women her age.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Pairing incompatible flavors disrupts the harmony of the charcuterie creation.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
But Dale, an uninvited companion, disrupts his final chapter.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupts
Verb
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In the end, Morgan breaks it off at their engagement party.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The schedule breaks favorably going forward.—
Dana O'Neil,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Currently comprising more than 8,300 active satellites, the Starlink constellation also disturbs radio telescope observations.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.—
Jennifer Walker,
CNN Money,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Each participant had lost central vision in one eye due to dry AMD, which destroys light-sensitive macular cells over time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
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An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the state's message confuses parents, especially the poor and underserved, Anzalone said.—
Arthur Allen,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
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But too often, this instinct to chase conflict distorts reality and confuses the public.—
Nancy Gibbs,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Surviving Mormonism fractures the church’s seemingly perfect veneer to expose the secrets that have been kept behind closed doors.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
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While a tiny fraction of the quake’s energy (less than 1%) fractures rocks, up to 80% of it is transformed into heat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Gakpo is deeper, and Wirtz pushes forward as the central member of Liverpool’s forward line, while Ekitike shuffles across as the left of the trio.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Because global air travel shuffles millions of people around the world daily, an outbreak of a very contagious disease anywhere can become a threat everywhere.—
Amy E. Stambach,
The Conversation,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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According to the Department of Transportation, daylight saving time saves energy, prevents traffic injuries and reduces crime.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Oct. 2025
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Cold water reduces those problems for all your clothes and linens, giving them a longer lifespan.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ethan Hawke stars as Lorenz Hart of legendary songsmiths Rodgers & Hart as the prolific partnership disintegrates to his great dismay.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
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The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disrupts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupts. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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