Synonym Chooser

How does the verb perturb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of perturb are agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, fluster, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

In what contexts can agitate take the place of perturb?

Although the words agitate and perturb have much in common, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When would discompose be a good substitute for perturb?

While the synonyms discompose and perturb are close in meaning, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When is disquiet a more appropriate choice than perturb?

While in some cases nearly identical to perturb, disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

When can disturb be used instead of perturb?

In some situations, the words disturb and perturb are roughly equivalent. However, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Where would fluster be a reasonable alternative to perturb?

The words fluster and perturb can be used in similar contexts, but fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When might upset be a better fit than perturb?

The meanings of upset and perturb largely overlap; however, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

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 perturb Rose water brings with it soothing properties and a lovely scent, as ultrafine silica powder and jojoba beads very softly help break up flakes to reveal petal-soft skin that feels pampered, not perturbed. Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 Each of these can get perturbed in different ways. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 One in three say over-reliance on AI without developer accountability was their top worry, while one in five were perturbed that junior engineers may see their development stunted. John Kell, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025 Every so often, that stability is perturbed by environmental changes, and populations quickly evolve new ways to survive, occupying a different niche in their ecosystem. Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perturb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturb
Verb
  • Staffieri was appropriately shocked and disturbed by both the antisemitic display and the breach of internal protocol.
    Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The plot was inspired by a Japanese news report that had deeply disturbed Woo, about a lunatic guilty of poisoning baby formula.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Many young people may be too distracted by the likes of MrBeast, who dropped out of college and turned a passion for video creation into a billion-dollar global empire.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Facilities like Sankofa and Nova House help those recovering from addiction fill their time with activities that distract them from the urge to use.
    Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Such hard coaching would bother some players.
    Jay King, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Continue reading … HIT THE ROAD – Duffy responds to trucker who 'couldn't be bothered' to learn English in America.
    , FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Russia’s war economy has reached a staggering scale that should alarm every European leader.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Japan was alarmed enough by the 2010 embargo — quietly lifted as Sino-Japanese relations improved — to launch a crash recycling program to reduce its China risk.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Grieving Vince, worrying about Bode, and taking care of her Cal Fire family is a lot to balance.
    Alamin Yohannes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Amawi worried about the risk of refeeding syndrome.
    Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sirianni tried to downplay questions about the position even when the season approached and the depth chart was unsettled.
    Zach Berman, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • But the shooting guard spot is unsettled.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The other legend concerns a black magic practitioner who fell in love with a princess.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • This is a doc not at all focused on the circumstances of her death and concerned more for celebrating and recognizing the impact of Selena’s life.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Case in point was the second period, when Hartman agitated Gudbranson on a potentially game-swinging penalty.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • What is the best way to investigate a spirit without agitating it?
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Perturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturb. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on perturb

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