DISTURBANCE Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

disturbance

noun

di-ˈstər-bən(t)s

Definition of disturbance

as in commotion

a state of noisy, confused activity went to investigate the disturbance outside

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in harassment

the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another the assistant apologized for the disturbance and got straight to the point

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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 Kansas City police responded to the Country Club Plaza Saturday night after a group of 60 to 100 youths caused a disturbance, a police spokesman said Monday. — Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026 And while not everyone has been happy with such a major shift, notably all those pentathletes who spent years honing their equestrian skills, the sport deemed it a necessary disturbance in order to maintain its status as an Olympic event. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 Police reportedly responded after witnesses reported a disturbance. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Fibromyalgia This condition — which experts believe may be caused by central sensitization, or when the central nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain — causes widespread pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances. — Cheyenne Buckingham, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disturbance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbance

Noun

In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of commotion

Noun

Concerns over disruptions to oil flows have kept a geopolitical risk premium embedded in crude prices, with traders closely monitoring developments in the region.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
Although the time change is less stressful to the body in the fall, the disruption still has an impact.

— Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of disruption

Noun

Jewish residents have faced physical attacks, threats and harassment, making the specificity of its new plan and its contrast with New York City’s approach particularly notable.

— Ariella Noveck, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Eisenhard has been charged with strangulation, simple assault, indecent assault, harassment and disorderly conduct in that case.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of harassment

Noun

Throughout that year, as Israelis poured into the streets to protest Netanyahu's far-right government and its plan to weaken the judiciary, Netanyahu's security chiefs warned that regional enemies could take advantage of the turmoil to attack.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
France, whose 10-year bond yield touched 5% last week for the first time since 2002, got a reprieve from recent turmoil after Moody’s decided to maintain its Aa3 credit rating and negative outlook on the nation.

— Ananya Chetia,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of turmoil

Noun

The pass rush couldn’t get close to Chambliss (no sacks, 4 hurries), who was able to find receivers exploiting Missouri’s zone coverage.

— PJ Green October 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Defensive tackle Will Echoles consistently disrupted the Missouri offensive front for five tackles, two broken up passes, one sack and one quarterback hurry.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurry

Noun

But the only picture mode that comes close to being that bright also has a notably green bias and ramps up the fan noise to a level that almost anyone will consider intolerable.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Communities are fighting data centers over spiking electric bills, soaring electricity and water demand, noise, land use and taxpayer subsidies.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of noise

Noun

Their clients, like the classic Vegas-chapel clientele, didn’t want the fuss of a giant ceremony or just didn’t have the guests.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2026
When chef Clay Conley and the Ember Group opened the second location of Conley’s popular Palm Beach restaurant Buccan in Coral Gables earlier this year, diners flocked to see what the fuss was about.

— Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of fuss

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Style

“Disturbance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbance. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of disturbance

noun

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