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
  • Adults’s Gen-Z characters tend to see their comforts as transient, their identities as mutable, and seriousness as an annoying obligation, all of which the second season pokes at a bit.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fluctuating estrogen levels can disrupt the nerves responsible for your sense of scent, leading to this symptom that’s equally bizarre and annoying.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • Similarly, which athlete had the worst attempt at rapping and which rapper had the most embarrassing attempt at athletics?
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The news of San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York’s arrest in Ohio Sunday for initially engaging in prostitution is undoubtedly embarrassing for York and concerning for the franchise.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • That year, the head trainer of the Commanders was found to have been illegally distributing oxycodone to players — an unsettling reminder of the NFL's difficult history with painkillers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The quirky robot is a notable departure from the more unsettling machines that typically make headlines today.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 27 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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