1
as in annoying
causing annoyance
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
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Relevance
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of disturbing
Sally Ibrahim,
The Conversation,
23 June 2026
The film follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.
—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Skyler Shepard,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Romantic from the first frame to the last, Park Chan-wook's 2022 masterpiece is a culmination of his steady and coherent approach to disturbing characters and his love for Hitchcock.
—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
Even more disturbing, some brands whose products were labeled as melatonin in the study actually had cannabidiol, or CBD, in them instead.
—
Sally Ibrahim,
The Conversation,
23 June 2026
The film follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.
—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Verb
At the news conference, Uthmeier said his office uncovered disturbing material during its investigation.
—
Skyler Shepard,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Romantic from the first frame to the last, Park Chan-wook's 2022 masterpiece is a culmination of his steady and coherent approach to disturbing characters and his love for Hitchcock.
—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
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Scam texts are annoying for everyone.
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Others have blamed everything from feminism and long work commutes to annoying kiddy car seats.
Adjective
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Every year, the Heart Rate Challenge is one of the most embarrassing rituals this show puts the Islanders through.
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Boise’s rough end to May stretched into June, and the first-year club left Madison, Wisconsin, last week surrendering four unanswered goals in the second half for an embarrassing loss.
Adjective
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The New York Times reported that multiple women who once dated Platner described the Maine oysterman’s behavior as intimidating and unsettling.
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This move, by a native of the attention economy, signals a growing trend of users actively disengaging, unsettling consumer investors.
Adjective
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As the nation gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, most Americans feel uneasy about their present, and pessimistic about their future, polls show.
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Sanders takes an uneasy step, into his wonderful, painful childhood.
Verb
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At the same time, the state’s spending keeps growing quickly as well, alarming the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which advises the Legislature on fiscal matters.
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The 2023 property tax valuation cycle — and to a lesser extent, the 2024 and 2025 cycles — have been the subject of widespread outrage in Jackson County, with skyrocketing property values alarming homeowners and business owners alike.
Verb
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Having clarity around service charges is the only way eateries can survive, said restaurateur Eddie Pozzuoli, who runs Eddie & Vinny’s in Coral Springs — because the only alternative to removing fees is hiking prices.
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Lemon can be used for everything from freshening bed linens to removing stains from clothes–including cleaning your microwave.
Verb
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The shadow fleet, aging tankers and cargo ships that break US sanctions and sabotage subsea cables with impunity, are increasingly disrupting global trade and data flows.
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Britain, Italy and Spain were also sweltering in extreme heat, with record temperatures in some regions disrupting schools and transport networks.
Verb
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That shift may help explain why some couples notice their partner’s scent bothering them more during periods of conflict.
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The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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