1
as in bothers
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
all that talk of war disturbed us
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in removes
to change the place or position of
the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disrupts
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in annoys
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
sorry to disturb you while you're working
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in weighs
to cause discomfort to or trouble for
please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
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What bothers me is the implication of a Labubu National Team full of these things.
-
The underlying economics are forgiving, if anyone bothers to design for them.
Verb
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Since the early 1980s, Earth scientists have understood that erosion and weathering of rock slowly removes CO2 from the atmosphere, regulating Earth’s climate on geological timescales.
-
For parents of younger children especially, a legal line drawn externally removes a fight that has previously had to be won solo, at home, against enormous social pressure.
Verb
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Each surgery disrupts blood supply to the skin and lays down a new layer of scar tissue, meaning the risks compound with every procedure.
-
Xenotransplantation disrupts this trajectory.
Verb
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What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?
-
One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.
Verb
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Lee is described as an Asian man who stands 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds.
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Best of all, the entire bike weighs a total of just 194 lb (88 kg), and that’s including the heavy battery.
Verb
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Mother’s explosion distracts Blaine and frees Sam.
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In my view, platforming these young men and sensationalizing their behaviors, rather than recognizing those behaviors as signs of psychological distress, distracts from the urgent need to address these serious mental health concerns.
Verb
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Ruben’s modern twist on Northanger focused on a young American literature teacher named Catherine Winslet, who relocates to Bath to ghostwrite the memoirs of her eccentric idol, Mrs Daftwood.
-
Released in 2004, Mean Girls starred Lohan as Cady Heron, who, after years of being homeschooled, relocates with her family from Africa and begins attending high school in the States.
Verb
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But nobody confuses Harvard Extension School classes with the real thing.
-
If a neighbor or sibling confuses the thread, summarize and invite a decision.
Cite this Entry
“Disturbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbs. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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