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
Relevance
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
On the other hand, chronic sleep deprivation impairs attention, disrupts decision-making and alters the hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism.
—
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Depriving children and young adults of social contact, structure, and meaningful engagement disrupts emotional regulation, impulse control, and decision-making, causing harm that can follow them long after release.
—Gladys Carrión, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Adelie and chinstrap penguins face potential extinction from the Antarctic Peninsula by century’s end as climate change disrupts the timing of their food supply.
—Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The widespread use of wearables, for example, can offer hard evidence of just how much that second (or third) glass of wine disrupts sleep.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
The widespread use of wearables, for example, can offer hard evidence of just how much that second (or third) glass of wine disrupts sleep.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Traders are watching to see if the social unrest in the Islamic Republic disrupts oil supplies.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Basically, the plant emits toxins that may help monarchs fend off the parasite, but something about heat disrupts this delicate balance.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 13 Jan. 2026
House Bill 1017 would allow school districts to send unruly students to be taught in an alternative setting if their behavior disrupts the classroom learning environment.
—Bart Pfankuch, South Dakota News Watch, 12 Jan. 2026
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Depriving children and young adults of social contact, structure, and meaningful engagement disrupts emotional regulation, impulse control, and decision-making, causing harm that can follow them long after release.
—Gladys Carrión, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Adelie and chinstrap penguins face potential extinction from the Antarctic Peninsula by century’s end as climate change disrupts the timing of their food supply.
—Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The widespread use of wearables, for example, can offer hard evidence of just how much that second (or third) glass of wine disrupts sleep.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
The widespread use of wearables, for example, can offer hard evidence of just how much that second (or third) glass of wine disrupts sleep.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Traders are watching to see if the social unrest in the Islamic Republic disrupts oil supplies.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Basically, the plant emits toxins that may help monarchs fend off the parasite, but something about heat disrupts this delicate balance.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 13 Jan. 2026
House Bill 1017 would allow school districts to send unruly students to be taught in an alternative setting if their behavior disrupts the classroom learning environment.
—Bart Pfankuch, South Dakota News Watch, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupts
Verb
-
And just seeing the damage there just breaks my heart.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
-
My heart breaks for her family.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Though the time change allows for more daylight in the spring and summer evenings, many have argued the change disturbs the body's circadian rhythms and has significant health drawbacks.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For instance, the downward airflow from the drone propellers disturbs the dust, increasing contamination risks, and the team had to develop additional safety measures to mitigate them.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An excuse or explanation by itself, even while being transparent, destroys trust.—
Shep Hyken,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Beyond the immediate loss of land, erosion frequently exposes or destroys historic and archaeological sites.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.—
Noosheen Hashemi,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
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Where the Roma obscured the line between a classic grand tourer and a sports car with supercar tendencies, the Amalfi confuses things further.—
Jonny Lieberman,
Robb Report,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite the victory, the partnership fractures off the ice.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
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These pressures could produce a tsunami that fractures the state’s fiscal foundation, self-inflicts a crisis ultimately demanding drastic cuts, and cripples its competitiveness.—
Andrew Rein,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 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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According to the company, this reduces inventory burdens, streamlines logistics, and shortens installation timelines.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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This greatly reduces environmental concerns related to legacy waste.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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,
2 Jan. 2026
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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.—
Doris Alvarez Cea,
Florida Times-Union,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disrupts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupts. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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