1
as in annoying
causing annoyance
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
So did a disturbing AI fake of Parton on her deathbed.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
Beyond comedy, disturbing sequences of horror and gore streak through co-writers/directors Rogen and Evan Goldberg's creative endeavor, including an exorcism scene involving Hill that's a straight-up homage to The Exorcist.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
Twelve years ago, Tim Carpenter and a fellow FBI agent from the Indianapolis field office drove to rural Rush County to investigate disturbing accusations.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
So did a disturbing AI fake of Parton on her deathbed.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
With words infallibly falling short, Pritam mingled realism with a fragmentary style of narration that meshes together social encounters, violent episodes, vivid metaphors, disturbing dreams, memories, intimate self-reflections, and introspection on society.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
Beyond comedy, disturbing sequences of horror and gore streak through co-writers/directors Rogen and Evan Goldberg's creative endeavor, including an exorcism scene involving Hill that's a straight-up homage to The Exorcist.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
-
Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Thankfully, the best faux garlands offer the look and oftentimes feel of the real thing without the sticky sap or annoying cleanup.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
However, her mom has already managed to do one of the most embarrassing things imaginable.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Alexander Hamilton—in the Hamilton musical portrayal, at least—is peak embarrassing boyfriend.—
Daniel Rodgers,
Vogue,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Compared to the swooning Gothic romance of Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, Kenneth Branagh’s Frankenstein is just too perverse — in an unsettling way.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
-
At the same time, the detective assigned to the case begins to uncover secrets about Scout, along with an unsettling breakthrough in Georgia’s death.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Rather than offering peace of mind from pest invasion, the chemical control process often leaves families feeling uneasy about what has been introduced so indiscriminately into their environment.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Cuomo led early polls, buoyed by name recognition and a coalition of moderate Democrats uneasy with the party’s leftward drift.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This isn’t in itself alarming in the moment, though such a narrow market often works against the duration of an advance.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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In a city home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel, Mamdani’s message has struck sharply different chords, galvanizing left-leaning activists while alarming many Jewish voters who view his words as inflammatory.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The new material uses a common wood waste product to create a greener future for electronics, removing toxic metals and avoiding complex, polluting manufacturing methods.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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But removing humans from the loop entirely would be a mistake.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In addition to disrupting the students’ routines, parents said the school closure forced them to scramble to make child care arrangements.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
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And the light from screens can affect your circadian rhythm, disrupting your sleep.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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