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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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
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Recent Examples of disturbing
Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Some clips, showing officers performing rapid and intense chest compressions on Lucy, were so disturbing that members of her family left the courtroom in tears.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
For emerging label Noise, scents are seen as soundtracks and even noise, rather than disturbing people, helps to fully be in the moment.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
The crime came to light days later, after a disturbing Facebook post from Dee Dee's account prompted concerned friends to contact authorities.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Some clips, showing officers performing rapid and intense chest compressions on Lucy, were so disturbing that members of her family left the courtroom in tears.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Verb
Sleep disturbance, including insomnia and disturbing dreams, is described as a common manifestation of cannabis withdrawal.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
For emerging label Noise, scents are seen as soundtracks and even noise, rather than disturbing people, helps to fully be in the moment.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
-
That particularly could be annoying to Uruguay supporters, given Messi’s stature in the sport overall and in particular with defending champion Argentina, La Celeste’s biggest rival.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.—
Claudia Fisher,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
But the game takes a turn when Rulla pulls a question about the most embarrassing thing your partner has ever done in public.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
Hearing those comments from a friend must have been incredibly hurtful and embarrassing for her.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Upending the character’s world is the arrival of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory, whose unsettling presence coincides with the activities of a serial killer known as The Trawler.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
-
Her stance on gay and trans rights has evolved in especially unsettling ways.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
These memories of his brief, sad human life are uneasy dreams that Lestat wakes from on his tour bus as the sun sets over the road to Toledo.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
On top of the tense, uneasy dynamic created by the duo’s pairing, the series is wrapped in a twisty web of peripheral problems.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The closures shrink the countywide advanced voting location network from 18 to 12 voting sites — alarming some Johnson County and city officials and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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For Denver residents like Marisa Saturni-Johnson, the sirens were alarming enough to send her family into shelter.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Do any pruning in spring or summer, and focus on removing dead or damaged branches and leaves, getting rid of crossing branches, and thinning out crowded areas to improve airflow.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Dec. 2025
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In reality, removing these credits without a credible alternative would hit many families hard, especially those already relying on the subsidies to keep coverage affordable.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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At defensive corners, Salah normally assumes a blocking role, tasked with disrupting the runs of key opposition aerial threats.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
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Alcohol impairs the immune system through several mechanisms, said Ednie, including disrupting communication between immune cells and damaging the gut barrier — both of which can trigger widespread inflammation.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Instead of lobbing the ball from end to end, teams played straight up the gut (brighter red colour), barely even bothering to use the wings (darker blue colour).—
John Muller,
New York Times,
6 June 2026
-
Brunson turned on the boosters in the second half, attacking the Spurs' defense and showing little sign that his knee was bothering him.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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