as in bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
despite his career success, he has been distempered by nagging feelings of inadequacy his whole life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distempering
Verb
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Ibrahim keeps bothering me endlessly, touching my leg and thigh.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
4 Jan. 2026 -
Ask her if anything is bothering her.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Writing essays, in the same way, lubricates my writing of fiction and vice versa—by distracting me and taking my thoughts elsewhere.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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The glare from the sun had been reflecting in the lenses and distracting Smith.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But then Detective Nathanial Saint shows up carrying disturbing news and an even more unexpected jolt of creativity.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Arrest follows disturbing video The Hopkins County Sheriff's Office arrested Hicks for animal cruelty.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At a minimum, the investigation should be conducted swiftly, and Maryland residents should be informed of accountability steps taken to address these concerning allegations.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Jan. 2026
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His daughter then explained Tate's content to him, leading Graham to find the influencer's reach particularly concerning, given that Tate is also under multiple investigations for human trafficking and rape.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While a small sample size, the historical record for what happens after the S & P 500 has a down month after a seven-month win streak is more reassuring than alarming for the near term.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
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China’s increasingly advanced military capabilities are alarming the West and reshaping the global balance of naval power, analysts said.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Times of amazing progress, but also worrying backslides to dogmatic tribal ideologies and an extremely uncertain future.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
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Homeowners can prep, cook, and bake without worrying about the impact on another room.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But within a year of Nikoui’s death, Halverson began to ask his mother unsettling questions, such as whether there were any signs in the Bible that vilified suicide.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Few know the alchemy of unsettling audio design better than Nine Inch Nails and one-time Guns n’ Roses guitarist Robin Finck, who toured with NIN from 1994 to 2000, and returned for their subsequent road shows from 2013 to the present.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Lululemon Athletica founder Chip Wilson has been agitating for change, and the outspoken critic now has activist investor Elliott Investment Management weighing in on a potential chief executive officer candidate.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
18 Dec. 2025
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Washing machines take care of that with their tumbling or agitating action.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
27 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Distempering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distempering. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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