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
Nightcrawler is a blistering neo-noir thriller led by a deeply disturbing tour-de-force performance from Gyllenhaal. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026 In a handwritten criminal complaint, Patty’s ex-wife described a disturbing physical altercation that allegedly left her with a swollen arm, neck pain and a bump on her head. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Verb
As Pakistan descends into crisis, Zakir recognizes disturbing similarities between 1947 and 1971—crowds assembling, slogans spreading, cities burning, and familiar places becoming strange. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 Its true talent is maintaining serenity while traveling quickly, occasionally deploying the V12’s immense reserve to pass slower traffic without disturbing the passengers. — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 28 July 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
  • In The Athletic’s anonymous annual player poll, he has been voted the NFL’s biggest trash talker and most annoying player.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The problem is with my stepson’s parents-in-law, both of whom are lovely but annoying.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 29 July 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • The latest incident follows several embarrassing episodes this season with the Giants, who through Thursday are 47-62 and 22 games behind the first-place Dodgers in the National League West.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
  • But, as the new documents show, that embarrassing episode constitutes separate, and sufficient, grounds for opposing Blanche’s confirmation.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • Pork Soda, in particular, foreshadowed the weight of nu-metal acts like Korn, who also deployed sagging bass in service of profoundly unsettling narratives.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But let that terror develop for just a second and something more unsettling will emerge.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, China is tightening approvals for exports of rare earth products — a key bargaining chip at the last summit in Beijing, which sealed an uneasy trade truce.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As the novel coronavirus overtook daily life, in the spring of 2020, our celebrities occupied uneasy terrain.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Verb
  • In Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County maintains infectious-disease surveillance and disease-reporting services for residents and visitors, which is exactly how local systems stay ready without alarming the public.
    — Luis E. Caso Vega, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
    — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • Advocates say the strategy encourages more diverse applicants, like first-generation students, by removing barriers to entry and boosting awareness of the often-generous scholarships available at private institutions.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Harris indicated the markets for those players were not good enough to warrant removing them from the current team.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of removing
Verb
  • Persistent heatwaves are not only driving up the cost of keeping society running and disrupting companies' production and operations, but are also putting pressure on European economic growth.
    — , CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Dodgers pulled off the trade without disrupting their major-league squad.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Verb
  • Hip still bothering Springs Springs lasted just four innings after issuing a season-high five walks, throwing 86 pitches — only 51% of them strikes — and gave up his 28th home run of the season, the most of any pitcher in the league.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Sharks already frequent Southern California beaches, usually without bothering anyone.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 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 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disturbing

Nglish: Translation of disturbing for Spanish Speakers

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