disturbing 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈstər-biŋ How to pronounce disturbing (audio)
Definition of disturbingnext
1
as in annoying
causing annoyance a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study

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2
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name

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3
as in unsettling
causing worry or anxiety a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption

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4
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery

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disturbing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of disturb
1
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy all that talk of war disturbed us

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2
as in removing
to change the place or position of the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone

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3
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move

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4
as in bothering
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation sorry to disturb you while you're working

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5
as in troubling
to cause discomfort to or trouble for please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink

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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 disturbing
Adjective
Perhaps most disturbing, however, is that lingering food particles on the lid, rim, or bottom of the bin (because even the strongest trash bags can rip) attract critters like mice and roaches. — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 July 2026 The global trend of loneliness is becoming more and more disturbing. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 19 July 2026
Verb
The officer wrote that Gatz had been living in the area for several months and was disturbing the surrounding vegetation. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 July 2026 Platner has faced multiple allegations of reckless and drunken behavior and disturbing behavior toward women since launching his campaign in August. — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
  1. annoying
  2. embarrassing
  3. unsettling
  4. uneasy
  5. alarming
  6. removing
  7. disrupting
  8. bothering
Adjective
  • The Moon shifts our mood toward fairness and cooperation, making compromise less annoying than usual.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • After all, if my brothers could be annoying, affectionate, and self-aggrandizing all at once, why couldn’t a man in the history books?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • That was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a collective moment in England and, instead, his decisions led to an embarrassing surrender that will linger in minds for decades.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • The Sacramento Kings turned in an embarrassing performance in the NBA Summer League on Tuesday.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • But now, the idyllic Mississippi island is overcast with an unsettling pall after the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 18 July 2026
  • Below, Entertainment Weekly looks back at eight other unsettling encounters celebrities have had while on the job.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • But as mainstream coverage of looksmaxxing continues and people like Clavicular are platformed by the fashion establishment, professionals across the beauty ecosystem are still uneasy.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
  • Politics and sport have always been uneasy bedfellows, but until recently referees and other sport officials have rarely been dragged into the public discourse.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Verb
  • In Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County maintains infectious-disease surveillance and disease-reporting services for residents and visitors, which is exactly how local systems stay ready without alarming the public.
    — Luis E. Caso Vega, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
    — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • Leaders add value by asking better questions, widening perspectives, connecting people, allocating resources and removing the obstacles that slow great work.
    — Brent McHugh, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The state added women to the workforce without removing men from their role as sole providers.
    — Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of removing
Verb
  • Meanwhile in Romania over the weekend, the Danube plunged to its lowest level in 30 years, according to Reuters, disrupting shipping and leading to restrictions on irrigation.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • At least eight people have died as severe weather continues to sweep across the United States, with flash flooding, powerful thunderstorms and extreme heat disrupting travel and threatening communities on July 19.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 20 July 2026
Definition of disrupting
Verb
  • Wasps are generally more interested in building their colony and finding food than in bothering people.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
  • But after going ahead, England manager Thomas Tuchel tried to shut the back door by throwing on countless defenders and not bothering to attack Argentina anymore.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of bothering

Browse Nearby Words

disturbers
disturbing
disturbingly
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Cite this Entry

“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of disturbing for Spanish Speakers

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