Synonyms of disturb

disturb

verb

di-ˈstərb 

1

as in to bother

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

all that talk of war disturbed us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• distract
• worry
• alarm
• concern
• unsettle
• agitate
• annoy
• perturb
• upset
• anger
• haunt
• distress
• irritate
• derail
• plague
• confuse
• unhinge
• discomfort
• undo
• embarrass
• disquiet
• discompose
• ail
• exercise
• dismay
• rattle
• aggravate
• fuss
• freak (out)
• harass
• flurry
• discourage
• exasperate
• distemper
• bug
• weird out
• irk
• rile
• pester
• vex
• frazzle
• alarum
• hagride
• chivvy
• bedevil
• fret
• disconcert
• confound
• fluster
• put off
• pique
• put out
• faze
• chafe
• harry
• get
• grate
• mortify
• unnerve
• discomfit
• gall
• dishearten
• shake up
• discountenance
• daunt
• demoralize
• chivy
• dispirit
• nettle
• abash
• jar
• peeve
• nonplus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settle
• calm
• quiet
• soothe
• compose
• alleviate
• allay
• assuage
• tranquilize
• tranquillize
• placate
• appease
• pacify
• conciliate
• mollify
• propitiate

2

as in to remove

to change the place or position of

the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remove
• relocate
• move
• transfer
• shift
• displace
• transport
• budge
• convey
• replace
• carry
• dislocate
• reposition
• haul
• transmit
• alter
• transpose
• supersede
• drive
• modify
• supplant
• revise
• vary
• bear
• lug
• cart
• remodel
• transplant
• remake
• tote
• rework
• redo
• revamp
• make over
• refashion

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stabilize
• secure
• freeze
• set
• fix
• anchor
• moor
• entrench
• lodge
• imbed
• root
• embed
• intrench
• implant
• ingrain
• engrain

3

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

• disrupt
• confuse
• shuffle
• upset
• disarrange
• disorganize
• derange
• disarray
• dislocate
• scramble
• muss
• muddle
• mix (up)
• discompose
• disorder
• jumble
• tumble
• unsettle
• perturb
• hash
• snarl
• tousle
• disjoint
• dishevel
• embroil
• tangle
• mess (up)
• rumple
• entangle
• stir (up)
• clutter
• agitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regulate
• order
• dispose
• organize
• arrange
• array
• draw up
• range
• straighten (up)
• align
• tidy
• adjust
• classify
• line up
• line
• marshal
• marshall
• queue
• codify
• fix
• systematize
• make up
• aline
• groom
• systemize
• spruce (up)
• methodize
• unscramble

4

as in to worry

to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation

sorry to disturb you while you're working

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• worry
• annoy
• harass
• provoke
• pester
• bug
• intrude (upon)
• irritate
• torment
• trouble
• aggravate
• chivvy
• invade
• anger
• chivy
• exasperate
• rile
• irk
• vex
• inconvenience
• perturb
• distress
• antagonize
• fret
• bedevil
• persecute
• gnaw
• afflict
• devil
• dog
• infuriate
• roil
• plague
• beset
• agitate
• dun
• rankle
• encroach
• get
• besiege
• put out
• hassle
• inflame
• pique
• enrage
• trespass
• chafe
• grate
• infringe
• obtrude
• gall
• outrage
• cut in (on)
• rasp
• enflame
• beleaguer
• incense
• peeve
• butt in
• madden
• nettle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• leave
• forget
• disregard
• slight
• please
• appease
• placate
• oblige
• satisfy
• disarm
• delight
• gratify
• conciliate
• mollify
• comfort
• content
• gladden
• console

5

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

• bother
• weigh
• trouble
• inconvenience
• incommode
• put out
• discommode
• hinder
• upset
• impede
• annoy
• disoblige
• obstruct
• provoke
• inhibit
• encumber
• aggravate
• hamper
• burden
• anger
• interfere (with)
• perturb
• bug
• exasperate
• rile
• vex
• irk
• tie up
• hobble
• hold back
• handicap
• inflame
• saddle
• shackle
• agitate
• fetter
• hamstring
• hold up
• get
• pique
• chafe
• gall
• enflame
• trammel
• grate
• peeve
• manacle
• nettle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assist
• help
• accommodate
• favor
• facilitate
• aid
• oblige
• ease
• please
• smooth
• appease
• satisfy
• disarm
• delight
• gratify
• abet
• placate
• pacify
• comfort
• conciliate
• mollify
• content
• console
• gladden

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

Recent Examples of disturb

Solar storms—giant bursts of energy from the Sun that disturb the Earth’s magnetic field—may play a role in triggering heart attacks, particularly in women, a new study has found. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Trump’s contempt for legal norms and Guantánamo’s legacy of ambiguous legality are thus a fitting match, however disturbing that compatibility may be. —Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025

Howls day and night disturbing all the neighborhood. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025

Leaf blowers of any kind may disturb wildlife habitat and contribute to soil erosion by removing organic matter and exposing the top layer of soil. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025