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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disturb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disturb are agitate, discompose, disquiet, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

When is it sensible to use agitate instead of disturb?

In some situations, the words agitate and disturb are roughly equivalent. However, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When is discompose a more appropriate choice than disturb?

The synonyms discompose and disturb are sometimes interchangeable, but discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When can disquiet be used instead of disturb?

The meanings of disquiet and disturb largely overlap; however, disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

When would fluster be a good substitute for disturb?

While the synonyms fluster and disturb are close in meaning, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When could perturb be used to replace disturb?

Although the words perturb and disturb have much in common, perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

In what contexts can upset take the place of disturb?

The words upset and disturb can be used in similar contexts, but upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disturb The brilliant Karma: The Dark World is one of the most aggressively disturbing horror games released in some time. The New York Times, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 The recent murder of the United Healthcare CEO revealed disturbing details about AI’s role in the company’s insurance claim denials. Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 For decades, the site was only partially excavated, for fear that further digging would disturb a nearby church built by famed architect Christopher Wren. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025 Crimping is the process of severing a crop at the base and laying it over to create a decomposing thatch/mulch layer for the garden without disturbing the soil. Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disturb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturb
Verb
  • Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.
    Jay Cost, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Quantum internet removes that risk by ensuring only the sender and receiver can read a message, so not even the hosting platform can access it.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • However, after this portion’s absence from the livestream was noted by NME, the group noted that this instance wasn’t the only part of their set that was removed from the broadcast.
    Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Shearing emphasized that there are no true winners in a tariff war, as higher prices harm consumers and disrupt global supply chains.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Critics worry that other anti-democratic actors will be taking cues from Bukele to curry favor with this particular president.
    David Catanese, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Victims of car collisions may have more to worry about as insurance companies warn drivers to be aware of a growing scam involving tow truck companies.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Donors of all blood types are encouraged to make an appointment to give by clicking here; donors must be 17 in most states (or 16 with parental consent where allowed by state law) and weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health to be eligible to donate.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Males can eventually weigh 500 pounds on average, while females typically weigh 250 pounds.
    Ayana Archie, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.
    Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The one who got distracted by the minstrel did not finish last.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The main interior difference is a spacious main salon made larger by relocating the bulky and imposing HVAC trunk (the main technical passageway for air that on previous models took up much of the formal dining area) to the exterior.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025
  • But with Pokrovsk itself heavily defended and the military supplies previously situated there largely relocated, Russia’s main effort in the area could be to push westward, rather than north.
    Andrew Carey and Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • No one was going to confuse Colossal with the Sierra Club.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Few foods confuse foreign visitors quite like brunost, Norwegian brown cheese.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturb. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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