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
The Zolciak-Biermann family drama has taken a disturbing turn. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 The disturbing incident comes amidst a sharp increase in both felony and misdemeanor assaults in the subway system. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
All three will face a slew of charges, including injuring or removing a tomb or monument, disturbing the contents of a grave or tomb and grand theft, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026 Authorities found a note on Karmelo Anthony's phone with a long list of disturbing racial tropes and slurs about Blacks, whites and Hispanics. — J.d. Miles, CBS News, 20 Aug. 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
  • Dimes Square has like an annoying stereotype — people are kind of like, uh, jeans and a tank top.
    — Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2026
  • When Mel arrives, all hell breaks loose, but at least the perpetually charming Fisher is up for the task of playing someone who is both completely annoying and totally winning.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • There had been an embarrassing episode in Scotland, again on a golf course, in which Harp had made the gaffe of being overly clingy.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
  • But a week ago the Panthers felt like a worrisome bunch, one that got outplayed in an embarrassing 29-14 exhibition loss to Buffalo.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • The film follows Niaz (Bakhtadze), a once-famous star of Georgian cinema who embarks on a bizarre and fatalistic odyssey of self-transformation, after an unsettling audition with a young female director looking to cast him in a minor part.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Learning from the doctor that your cholesterol levels are higher than recommended can be an unsettling wake-up call.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Kurt's key takeaways Hearing AI on a 911 call would make a lot of people uneasy.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Falwell correctly sensed vulnerability in the uneasy alliance between rationalism and Christianity that had prevailed since the eighteenth-century Enlightenment.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Verb
  • The development proved alarming enough that OpenAI vowed last week to slow the release of its upcoming Astra AI model.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Found in many foods For consumers, of course, the latest food safety concerns can be alarming given that lettuce and jalapeño peppers are used in many of the roughly 1 billion meals Americans consume daily.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • That work has included disposing of most of the furniture that was in the building and removing old ceiling tiles as part of abatement efforts, Tomlinson said.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The practice of removing shark fins is banned across the region.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of removing
Verb
  • The charges are hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor, and disrupting a meeting or procession, a Class B misdemeanor.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Secretly accessing or disrupting somebody else's computer systems can have serious consequences if an operation reaches the wrong target.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Verb
  • Some interns hesitate to contact their former colleagues for fear of bothering them, but most people are eager to help out young talent.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Contreras rarely takes days off but asked for a day off Sunday with his leg bothering him.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 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 29 Aug. 2026.

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