Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

disturb

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of disturb

1 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
  • The news disturbed us.
Synonyms of disturb

agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry
Words Related to disturb

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 of disturb

allay, alleviate, assuage

appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate
Antonyms of disturb

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 of disturb

budge, dislocate, displace, move, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose
Words Related to disturb

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, vary
Near Antonyms of disturb

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 of disturb

confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset
Words Related to disturb

embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle

agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle

clutter
Near Antonyms of disturb

align (also aline), line, line up, queue

classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize

adjust, fix

groom, make up, spruce (up)

unscramble
Antonyms of disturb

arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy
4 to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
  • I'm sorry to disturb you while you're working.
Synonyms of disturb

bother, bug, chivy (or chivvy), intrude (upon), pester
Words Related to disturb

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, trespass
Near Antonyms of disturb

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 of disturb

discommode, disoblige, incommode, inconvenience, put out, trouble
Words Related to disturb

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, upset
Near Antonyms of disturb

abet, aid, assist, help

ease, facilitate, smooth

appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate

delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy

comfort, console, content
Antonyms of disturb

accommodate, favor, oblige

Synonym Discussion of disturb

discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, agitate, upset, fluster mean to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action. discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.
    • discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife
disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.
    • the disquieting news of factories closing
disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.
    • the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me
perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.
    • perturbed by her husband's strange behavior
agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.
    • in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work
upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.
    • the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child
fluster suggests bewildered agitation.
    • his declaration of love completely flustered her

Learn More about disturb

  1. See words that rhyme with disturb Dictionary: Definition of disturb Spanish Central: Translation of disturb Nglish: Translation of disturb for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of disturb for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up disturb? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games