DISTURBS Synonyms: 275 Similar and Opposite Words

disturbs

verb

present tense third-person singular of disturb

as in bothers

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy all that talk of war disturbed us

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as in removes

to change the place or position of the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone

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as in disrupts

to undo the proper order or arrangement of her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move

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as in annoys

to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation sorry to disturb you while you're working

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as in weighs

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 disturbs Tilling or plowing in the summer disturbs the soil's delicate ecosystem and exposes moist soil to rapid water loss. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 June 2026 The pier in Michigan City’s Washington Park disturbs the natural flow of sand along the lakeshore, creating new land east of the pier but starving beaches to the west, an erosion problem repeated by other manmade structures that jut out into Lake Michigan. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 Regardless, there’s a clear symbolism to Clark empathizing and embracing a bloated externalization of his own inchoate fury until someone with an outside perspective disturbs his peace, and that fury breaks loose and devours him. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 29 May 2026 The idea that there can be any kind of misalignment between them, though, disturbs her. — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 24 May 2026 The worms thrash and move erratically with a snake-like motion that disturbs the topsoil. — Maria Braganini, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026 There are lots of things weightlessness disturbs, even in the short run. — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026 The Leo moon disturbs unconscious patterns that are ready to be interrupted. — Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026 Removing nodules from the ocean floor disturbs the silty seabed that's home to many organisms, like worms and small crustaceans, the scientists found. — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbs

Verb

That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal.

— Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about this scam is that criminals are going after people who may have the fewest options to protect themselves.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of bothers

Verb

Hal clocks it, giving his protégé a long side-eye when the green birdie continues to hover overhead after John removes the ring.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Aug. 2026
The 23-year-old Spaniard is returning after four months out with a wrist injury, but Sinner’s withdrawal removes his biggest rival.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of removes

Verb

Change disrupts the status quo, and employees often resist change activities to preserve stability.

— John Radman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
In Egypt, for example, steep hikes in fuel and food prices and enormous losses of Suez Canal revenues as the war disrupts global shipping are compounding existing fiscal and unemployment crises.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of disrupts

Verb

Peltz weighs deal for Wendy’s Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund is assembling a group that could bid to take Wendy’s private as the chain faces declining sales, falling traffic, and restaurant closures.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
As Johnson weighs whether to run for a second term in next year’s election, CTU is seeing former friends and allies either become enemies or distance themselves from the union’s pressure tactics and recklessness.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of weighs

Verb

There’s the studio version, which has some really interesting production, with Meg’s shuddering percussion that eventually grates and distracts, and Jack’s very chunky guitar.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Outer Banks’ success has always rested on an emotional depth that distracts from nonsense plot points and over-the-top escapades.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of distracts

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disturbingly

disturbs

disunion

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“Disturbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbs. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of disturbs

verb

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