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
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Those incidents follow a disturbing wave of fans pelting performers with objects — from phones that injured Bebe Rexha to aggressive encounters with Billie Eilish — raising alarms about onstage safety.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
ABC News, 11 May 2026
In too many corporations, AI strategy is delegated to a chief AI officer or an innovation lab, organizational constructs designed to signal progress without disturbing the existing power structure.
—Drew Cukor, Fortune, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
As his wife recovers, each cycle of death and resurrection pulls him closer to something far more disturbing.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Those incidents follow a disturbing wave of fans pelting performers with objects — from phones that injured Bebe Rexha to aggressive encounters with Billie Eilish — raising alarms about onstage safety.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Verb
He was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
In too many corporations, AI strategy is delegated to a chief AI officer or an innovation lab, organizational constructs designed to signal progress without disturbing the existing power structure.
—Drew Cukor, Fortune, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
-
Sixty-three percent of Glamour readers polled think lurking is annoying and also kind of creepy.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
18 May 2026
-
For instance, many partners have small gripes or annoyances with habits that are annoying at worst, but far from an outright red flag — like a partner that chews somewhat loudly, leaves cabinet doors open or hums constantly while working.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The mistake was embarrassing, but the use of the technology wasn’t.—
Max Raskin,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
-
The trial laid bare some of Silicon Valley's messy inner workings, with emails, diary entries and sometimes embarrassing text message exchanges shown as evidence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Tensions mount, especially when Matt reenters the picture, and Max Fabian’s fight choreography creates some unsettling moments.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
And that is not even touching on all the unsettling racial humor that came with having Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchliffe — two comedians who have actually faced backlash for hate speech — on the dais for the roast of a Black entertainer.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nowhere is this truer than in Russia, a nation marked by a long history of political repression alongside extraordinary literary brilliance, a rare and uneasy combination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Two women form an uneasy alliance to stop the killer — but their own motives end up playing a role in what happens next.—
Diya Chacko,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Midway through my massage, the boat unmoored itself and set sail—setting off an initially alarming vibrating bed and whirring engine noise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Armorer says that after removing his helmet, he can only be redeemed by bathing in the Living Waters on Mandalore.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Georgia governor has signed a bill that expands the state’s medical cannabis program, easing access to cannabis vapes and removing the THC potency cap.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport endured a cyberattack in August 2024 initiated by a ransomware group that caused some IT system outages disrupting Wi-Fi, facility websites, flight display screens and check-in kiosks.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
The process of how art gets made seems to change every day, with new technologies disrupting old workflows and evolving methods of distribution and monetization.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Tell him that his approach to the trip is bothering you.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Try taking 10 to 15 minutes each day to write out what's bothering you.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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