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
Today, Jolson’s appearance in blackface is a disturbing sight. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026 Something that felt fresh, exciting and also deeply disturbing. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
Choose groundcovers that can handle the shade and conditions in your yard, and plant carefully to avoid disturbing the tree’s roots. — Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026 There’s a story there, a complicated and disturbing one, but the new Netflix film Unabomber won’t be the one to give it to us. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 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
  • And best yet, there's no annoying drilling or wires involved at all.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The day improves once your mental energy has something interesting to explore instead of something annoying to manage.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • And this is an indelible stain on the country of Norway, and those people that made such a disgraceful and embarrassing decision.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2026
  • What’s most embarrassing is that Alexis can’t even commit to storming off.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • In lieu of an interview, Gibney created an unsettling digital avatar of Musk that says things the real Musk actually uttered.
    — Sheelah Kolhatkar, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Its aggressively artificial imagery evokes the kind of AI-slop, dreamcore videos that tend to populate social media these days, thrusting the audience into increasingly unsettling spaces that seem generated from a stranger’s hazy childhood.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Many of the women interviewed still feel uneasy about the experience.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There was some uneasy laughter, and then, what everyone else was too afraid to say came from the only person who could.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Verb
  • But the Treasury market’s rapid deterioration is now alarming those who previously downplayed the risks.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The constant delay-of-game calls, false starts and inability to get lined up are a special level of alarming for a quarterback who entered the NFL 10 years ago.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • About 50 employees signed off on an email to leadership expressing concerns and providing suggestions, such as evaluating clutter and removing items like pillows that are hotspots for the insects.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Robin offers a little more structure and can even be transformed into a clutch by removing the adjustable strap.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of removing
Verb
  • Over the past decade, cyberattacks against the education sector have risen expeditiously, exposing sensitive data, temporarily disrupting school operations and affecting students' learning.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Integration therefore becomes an important part of introducing upgrades without disrupting the wider mission setup.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Verb
  • The goal is not to solve what’s bothering you but to let the thoughts move through.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Lane Kiffin will stroll off the LSU bus later this afternoon, acting as if none of the noise is bothering him.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 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 11 Oct. 2026.

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