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
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the allegations involving Charette's daughter made the case particularly disturbing. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Perez Hilton’s family is clearing up misinformation about his communication with the media and sharing a new update on his health following his disturbing livestream earlier this week. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
Brian Rattliff of Los Angeles is charged with disturbing a religious meeting and child abuse for releasing tear gas near the choir of adults and children at All Saints Church in Pasadena on Easter Sunday. — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 Each seat is 19 inches wide with 39 inches of pitch with thoughtful features like a hard shell for easy reclining without disturbing surrounding fliers and privacy dividers attached to the headrest. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 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
  • The best mascaras for older women help coat lashes with color while addressing the annoying issues that come with age.
    — Micaela English, Glamour, 14 Aug. 2026
  • First, dust the surface to eliminate any annoying dust and dirt particles.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • The question about Vrabel's family counseling sessions that followed an embarrassing unfurling of a years-long relationship between him and a reporter was met with an answer that ultimately discussed offensive line combination blocks.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Individuals can't plead the Fifth before Congress simply to avoid embarrassing testimony.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • The script is generally funny and romantic but can also get unsettling.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Set against the remote, insular world of its titular island, production designer Steve Arnold and set decorator Jennifer Engel created a lived-in, slightly stuck in time and, when necessary, deeply unsettling environment.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Some users appeared to grow uneasy, even as Polymarket let people bet on whether the fires would spread to nearby counties or when they might be contained.
    — Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The doll arrives at an uneasy moment for the brand it’s built on.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 10 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
  • Niforatos said removing the products from the market is the best course of action.
    — Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Tate said the best way to keep snakes out of your car is by removing what’s drawing the animals in.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of removing
Verb
  • The strategically vital strait has been effectively closed by Iran since fighting began in late February, disrupting a major route for global oil shipments.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tellis said these private companies would likely be better at surveillance than actually disrupting criminal enterprises.
    — Henry Larson, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Verb
  • The one issue that is bothering me at or just before launch is the CPU's Wear and Tear management.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The arnica in this gel can help treat sore muscles, aches, swelling, or other pains that are bothering you, too.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 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 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disturbing

Nglish: Translation of disturbing for Spanish Speakers

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