1
as in commotions
a state of noisy, confused activity
went to investigate the disturbance outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disruptions
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 harassments
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
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Recent Examples of disturbances
Before Cassini’s mission, astronomers believed that gravitational disturbances inflicted by neighbor Neptune’s orbit caused Saturn’s tilt over time.
—
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
This would have allowed a pilot to keep flying for hours, without disturbances.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 22 Feb. 2026
The governor of Jalisco reported roadblocks and other disturbances throughout the state and advised people to stay home.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
The aircraft have additionally supported police during assault incidents and other public disturbances, providing real-time situational awareness from above.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
This method aims to create a personalized sleeping experience while minimizing disturbances at night.
—Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Sleep issues can also be a compounding factor with brain fog, so treating sleep disturbances with lifestyle changes such as sleep hygiene, eating a healthy diet, or medication to decrease hot flashes or night sweats can help.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
In North America, the largest boreal forest gains were concentrated in the northernmost boreal, while any losses corresponded to widespread forest disturbances, including a bark beetle outbreak in British Columbia and wildfires across western Canada and interior Alaska, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
They’ve been known to cause electromagnetic disturbances on the earth, such as with radio and satellite communications and power line transmissions.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
This would have allowed a pilot to keep flying for hours, without disturbances.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 22 Feb. 2026
The governor of Jalisco reported roadblocks and other disturbances throughout the state and advised people to stay home.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
The aircraft have additionally supported police during assault incidents and other public disturbances, providing real-time situational awareness from above.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
This method aims to create a personalized sleeping experience while minimizing disturbances at night.
—Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Sleep issues can also be a compounding factor with brain fog, so treating sleep disturbances with lifestyle changes such as sleep hygiene, eating a healthy diet, or medication to decrease hot flashes or night sweats can help.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
In North America, the largest boreal forest gains were concentrated in the northernmost boreal, while any losses corresponded to widespread forest disturbances, including a bark beetle outbreak in British Columbia and wildfires across western Canada and interior Alaska, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
They’ve been known to cause electromagnetic disturbances on the earth, such as with radio and satellite communications and power line transmissions.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbances
Noun
-
Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The disruptions are expected to last for at least several more days.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But as Israel closed checkpoints to the movement of people and goods on Saturday, gas stations saw longer-than-usual lines as residents filled spare canisters in case of supply disruptions.—
CLAUDIA CIOBANU,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The everyday realities of life under the occupation, including the hassles and harassments of bureaucratic delays and security checkpoints, can suddenly become matters of life and death.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
About two couples, connected and dependent on one another, raising their kids alongside each other, facing the same turmoils, the same existential questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Mayer and Strong offer a broad pop-history lesson, in which the same tensions and turmoils churn on and on in their terrible cycle throughout the decades; the only thing that’s changed are the aesthetics.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
The Beats Studio Pro headphones truly block out any distracting noises, allowing wearers to connect to in-flight entertainment comfortably and sleep without interruption.—
Kristy Alpert,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Connecticut, while not seismically active, does have one area around the southeastern town of Moodus that gets tiny earthquakes (as well as noises that seem to accompany them).—
Jan Ellen Spiegel,
Hartford Courant,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Though both storms are similar — with a major storm system lingering over the region for over a day and whipping the region with merciless hurricane-level winds, driving inch after inch of wet snow — what made the 1978 storm so devastating was the apparent suddenness of its arrival.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
-
McPhail said Home Depot's business was relatively stable throughout the year, including in the fourth quarter, when adjusting for storms.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbances. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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