disturb

1 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy all that talk of war disturbed us Synonyms agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry Related Words aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy (or chivvy), exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve Near Antonyms allay, alleviate, assuage; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate Antonyms calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

2 to change the place or position of the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone Synonyms budge, dislocate, displace, move, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transposeRelated Words bear, carry, cart, convey, drive, haul, lug, tote, transmit, transplant, transport; replace, supersede, supplant; alter, make over, modify, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, varyNear Antonyms anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), implant, ingrain (also engrain), lodge, root

3 to undo the proper order or arrangement of her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move Synonyms confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorganize, disrupt, disorder, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upsetRelated Words embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle; agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle; clutterNear Antonyms align (also aline), line, line up, queue; classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize; adjust, fix; groom, make up, spruce (up); unscrambleAntonyms arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy

4 to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation sorry to disturb you while you're working Synonyms bug, chivy (or chivvy), bother, intrude (upon), pesterRelated Words inconvenience, trouble; aggravate, annoy, bedevil, chafe, devil, dog, dun, exasperate, fret, gall, get, gnaw, grate, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rankle, rasp, rile, roil, torment, vex, worry; beleaguer, beset, besiege; distress, plague; afflict, harass, provoke; anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, madden, outrage; agitate, perturb; butt in, cut in (on), obtrude; encroach, infringe, invade, trespassNear Antonyms disregard, forget, ignore, leave, slight; appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, oblige, placate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; comfort, console, content

5 to cause discomfort to or trouble for please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink Synonyms discommode, disoblige, inconvenience, incommode, put out, troubleRelated Words burden, encumber, saddle, weigh; fetter, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel; aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, get, irk, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex; grate, inflame (also enflame), provoke; agitate, perturb, upsetNear Antonyms abet, aid, assist, help; ease, facilitate, smooth; appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; comfort, console, contentAntonyms accommodate, favor, oblige