1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
went to investigate the disturbance outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disruption
an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed
caused a disturbance in the carefully ordered proceedings
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
the assistant apologized for the disturbance and got straight to the point
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 disturbance
Natural solutions include physical disturbance, contact killers, and bait.
—
Cori Sears, The Spruce, 4 June 2026
Jacobs was booked into the Brown County Jail on May 26 following a police response to a domestic disturbance complaint.
—Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones Deal The Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers total focus with eight internal microphones and dual advanced audio processors that isolate ambient disturbances.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026
The National Hurricane Center doesn’t expect any disturbances over the next seven days.
—Howard Cohen
june 1, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbance
Cori Sears, The Spruce, 4 June 2026
Jacobs was booked into the Brown County Jail on May 26 following a police response to a domestic disturbance complaint.
—Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones Deal The Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers total focus with eight internal microphones and dual advanced audio processors that isolate ambient disturbances.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026
The National Hurricane Center doesn’t expect any disturbances over the next seven days.
—Howard Cohen
june 1, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbance
Noun
-
Winnetka’s Village Council put an end to the latest commotion over its lakefront by opposing a project that would build chain-link fencing for dogs on Centennial Beach.—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
Those seated in the gunner or engineer positions will also be treated to additional clips of Grogu via their adjacent flight panels, the young alien here portrayed as something of a playful pet of a child who is exaggeratedly chill during the commotion.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
But his anger appeared to extend beyond the disruption caused by the repairs.—
Zahra Ullah,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
For them, the closure of Hormuz is not an abstract disruption to global trade.—
John W.H. Denton AO,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
But instead of quietly dispersing, patrons and neighborhood residents resisted, sparking several nights of demonstrations that crystallized growing frustration with discrimination and police harassment.—
Diana Rodriguez,
Time,
8 June 2026
-
The other lawsuit accuses the sheriff's office of similar hiring practices and harassment for speaking up.—
Jack Springgate,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Even at the neighboring sports bar, the Douglas, her food has caused a stir, enticing people between innings to visit Leo Market.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
Agnes and Sherman Open for just a little over a year on buzzy 19th street in the Heights, Agnes and Sherman has quickly caused a stir on the Houston food scene.—
Melissa Liebling-goldberg,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Gold is a safe-haven asset that investors gravitate toward when economic and political turmoil erupts, sending waves through the markets.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
The new sanctions come as the administration is updating war plans to respond to potential turmoil on the island and after the Justice Department charged Raúl Castro for the murder of four people in the 1996 shootdown of two planes of the exile organization Brothers to the Rescue.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Reviewers say assembly is also quick and easy—a major plus for those who value style without the fuss.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
1 June 2026
-
Once people knew what the fuss was about, however, the crowds swiftly dried up, and most reviews were mixed.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
While these instruments might be heard loudly on the streets, they have been banned at the World Cup this year in Mexico to prevent excessive noise.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
From noise-cancelling headphones to cozy travel wraps, here are the seven travel essentials worth splurging on, according to a luxury travel agent.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
And don’t be in too much of a hurry, the first examples will be delivered from 2028.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 June 2026
-
The first step was to add some weight to that 6-6 frame, and do so in a hurry.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbance. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
