DISTURB Synonyms: 273 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

disturb

verb

di-ˈstərb

Definition of disturb

as in to bother

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy all that talk of war disturbed us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to remove

to change the place or position of the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disrupt

to undo the proper order or arrangement of her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to worry

to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation sorry to disturb you while you're working

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to weigh

to cause discomfort to or trouble for please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Yellow jackets are often the most aggressive, especially when scavenging for food or if their ground nests are disturbed. — Nick Perry, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Eliminating the ban would pave the way for airliners that cut travel times in half without disturbing people on the ground. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026 But in the works that followed de Kooning’s elegant, sure-handed lines were disturbed once again. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 But some have questioned how logging operations may impact the environment with the use of heavy machinery potentially disturbing soil composition, plant growth and animal species. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disturb

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturb

Verb

What’s bothered me, though, is how its backers have anchored their messaging around a lot of misleading generalizations about the state of college sports.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Having my mother in so much of the film [is what] bothers me.

— Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of bother

Verb

The reactor would produce substantial heat that engineers must remove from the vehicle.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
For instance, Microsoft has committed not to use sensitive data that many companies leverage, such as information about gender, race, age, ZIP code that can be used to identify a person even if their name is removed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

Improved logistics for Saudi crude exports have reduced the market's assessment of how much supply is at risk, Massabni said, adding that oil prices reflect not just available barrels but also the probability of those supplies being disrupted.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
The situation in Bangladesh highlights the dangers of disrupting vaccine supplies, Nuzzo says.

— Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of disrupt

Verb

According to new Gallup polling, 27% of US workers worry that technology will render their jobs obsolete, a new high.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
New blood tests that might predict Alzheimer’s years before symptoms begin may sound tantalizing for people who worry about later-in-life dementia.

— Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

Buffalo weighed those reports before adding Walker and molding the rookie to become a star prospect who started every game except the opener.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Concrete barriers designed to keep cars out of the secure area crumbled as the jet, weighing more than 100 tons, headed straight for a four-lane road.

— Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of weigh

Verb

Some of these elements are distracting, some are used as plot devices, and a few simply reek of misanthropy for its own sake.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026
The pain distracted Garrett while facing a 49ers lineup that included three-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

Understandably not wanting summer camp to end, Jacob hatches a plot to make a break for it and relocate to an old, similarly Jewish camp that was left abandoned decades ago.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Wang’s film adapts Tanizaki Junichiro’s novel of the same name, relocating the story to present-day Tokyo, with Fan starring opposite Lily Franky and Kudoh Youki.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of relocate

Verb

The Polo Room Not to be confused with Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar, the Polo Room takes its name from the actual sport—international polo star Nacho Figueras is a co-owner, and his Argentine heritage runs throughout the restaurant.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
There’s no complicated touchscreen to confuse older family members or young kids, either.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of confuse

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distrusts

disturb

disturbance

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Style

“Disturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturb. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of disturb

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