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
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The 49-year-old from Carver, Massachusetts is accused of running a dogfighting operation for years; breeding and training dogs for violence and subjecting the animals to disturbing and cruel conditions and punishment.
—Juli McDonald, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
The following article contains disturbing descriptions.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
Troy’s response gives Ashley a disturbing picture of the future (minus the business class seat and the Xanax).
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The 49-year-old from Carver, Massachusetts is accused of running a dogfighting operation for years; breeding and training dogs for violence and subjecting the animals to disturbing and cruel conditions and punishment.
—Juli McDonald, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
The speed of the adoption — alongside disturbing incidents of individuals using general-use AI chatbots with catastrophic consequences — is causing some concern among practitioners and researchers.
—Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
The following article contains disturbing descriptions.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
-
Following an investigation, Nichols was also booked on suspicion of annoying or molesting a child under 18.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
While Nichols remained in custody for the break-in, he was booked on an additional count of annoying or molesting a child under 18, police said.—
Cierra Morgan
Connect
April 13,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fantasia, released in 1940, was an embarrassing flop, made financially disastrous by the fact that Walt insisted that the film could only be shown with Fantasound, a particularly expensive sound system, which made for fewer and more expensive screenings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Superpowers rarely inflict such swift and straightforwardly embarrassing injury to themselves.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
From shaping complex, layered roles to creating a world that feels both opulent and unsettling, the panel will unpack the storytelling choices that bring this gripping narrative to life.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
What is unsettling today is how easily modern leaders still reach for religious language to evade restraint, and how fragile the institutions meant to check them can appear.—
Joëlle Rollo-Koster,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In its blending of ’90s slowcore and post-rock, the Chicago quartet conjures an uneasy reprieve, casting resignation not as a dead end but an inevitable, enviable acceptance.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Yet others remain uncertain about what the authority of a two-thirds majority will bring, with some uneasy about taking such a mandate from Orbán and delivering it to his opponent.—
Justin Spike,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 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
-
He is then seen slowly approaching the victim, checking his surroundings, and removing his shoes before grabbing her from behind.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The surgery involved removing 40 percent of Erbert's skull and required a follow-up skull implant surgery, per the Los Angeles Times.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The hospitality union represents roughly 2,000 workers at the arena, potentially disrupting one of the biggest sporting events in the world.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
In such a case, if the people passing the message did not have complete control of their devices, an outsider could potentially subtly change the particles’ entanglement, disrupting the communication without leaving a trace.—
Matt von Hippel,
Quanta Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Both players scored in double figures on Sunday, but Santos was ruled out against the Kings because of a pelvis injury that has been bothering him for weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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