disturbance

1 a state of noisy, confused activity went to investigate the disturbance outside Synonyms ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, clutter [chiefly dialect], coil, corroboree [Australian], commotion, do [chiefly dialect], foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha (also hoo-hah), hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry (or hurry-skurry), kerfuffle [chiefly British], moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore [Scottish], squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zooRelated Words cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar; disorder, unrest, upheaval; eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst; brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee (also mêlée), scuffle; dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzyNear Antonyms calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquillity (or tranquility); order, orderliness

2 an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed caused a disturbance in the carefully ordered proceedings Synonyms derangement, dislocation, disruption, upsetRelated Words convulsion, revolution, unsettledness, unsettlement, upheaval

3 the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another the assistant apologized for the disturbance and got straight to the point Synonyms aggravation, bedevilment, botheration, bothering, bugging, annoyance, harassment, harrying, importunity, pestering, teasing, vexationRelated Words aggro [British], molestation, offense (or offence), persecution, provocation, torment, torture; devilment, devilry, mischief