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 Solène doesn’t seem perturbed, and this is the beginning of me feeling insane. Emma Soren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025 Trump said he was perturbed by the Ukrainian leader’s resistance. Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025 Coleman found no pretentiousness in Trafford, and he was not perturbed by the drop in facilities compared to the Etihad Campus. Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025 The move has perturbed even some of Zelenskyy’s supporters — people who are simultaneously worried about the heavy-handed and potentially spurious crackdown on dissent, and that such criticisms against the Ukrainian leader might be used in bad faith by opponents in Moscow or Washington. Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for perturb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturb
Verb
  • Vic and Cali hadn’t wanted a wedding, but this had disturbed Vic’s parents.
    Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Two players take on the roles of a brother and sister who are searching for their missing buddies on an island inhabited by some rather disturbing monsters.
    Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That will distract any views of the neighbors’ patios or houses that might linger until the shrubs fill in.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Some medications can help distract the brain, and those are usually tried first.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The acting didn’t bother me, but the directing did.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
  • If the odds of winning the lottery are so low, why do people bother playing?
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • China's nuclear arsenal has especially alarmed Washington and its allies.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The tackling was alarming enough that the Broncos were practicing on Monday with live tackles, something that’s not seen too often once the season starts.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Not knowing much about the condition, Mares-Sedillo worried that her face would be permanently altered.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The condition's most severe symptoms are sensitivities to spices, salt, and sweets, which means there's no reason to worry about a geographic tongue diagnosis.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Through it all, what unsettled me in those places was the fragility of trust between armed patrols and the civilians around them — the uneasy sense that one spark could undo any tenuous stability.
    Eric Chastain, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
  • One of my clients, a senior executive in a major technology company, shared how the organization's shifting priorities were unsettling the team.
    Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On the other hand, standing idly by while a kid makes concerning choices can feel like an abdication of parental responsibility.
    Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
  • At least as far as public opinion is concerned, voting by mail is here to stay.
    Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If the leaves are especially dirty, soak in cold water, gently agitating them to loosen dirt and grit.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
  • In her autobiography, Gibson wrote about biding her time rather than choosing to agitate.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Perturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturb. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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