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 There is now a 145% tariff on all goods imported from China, and the country has retaliated with its own 125% duty on goods from the U.S. Investors were also perturbed by President Donald Trump's blatant attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Julie Coleman, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2025 Massachusetts Democrats appear especially perturbed by Trump, choosing to elbow themselves over who should be the leader of the resistance. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2025 He certainly wasn't perturbed by the experience and has even returned to the restaurant since. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 Dickinson appeared somewhere between perturbed and seething. Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perturb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturb
Verb
  • These days, there’s no shortage of packable, lightweight sleeping pads to make sure no peas (or pebbles) ever disturb your slumber on your next backpacking trip.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 11 May 2025
  • The images of those disturbing losses cycled through social media and quickly made it onto local news.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Critics suggested that Johnson timed the announcement to distract from the fact that he’d just been fined for attending a party in defiance of his own COVID restrictions, though the policy had been months in the making.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
  • These lingering to-dos consume mental energy, distract our focus, and elevate stress.
    Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Or Xander Schauffele, the defending PGA champion who is surely not bothered by the lack of attention on him early this week.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • That doesn’t mean the implication doesn’t bother him.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • The rapid expansion of the Camp House Fire, Jenkins Creek Fire and Munger Shaw Fire has alarmed officials.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • Democrats and some Republicans are also alarmed over the ethics of accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign country.
    Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Given the historical biases in hiring practices, many job seekers worry that AI might perpetuate or even amplify these biases.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • In 1956, a survey of over 2,000 professors showed that 61% had been contacted by the FBI; 40% worried that students might misrepresent their politics; and about a quarter would not express their views for fear of the government.
    Time, Time, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • They, too, have been unsettled by Mr. Trump’s tariff offensive, his dismissal of allies as freeloaders, and his reluctance to support Ukraine.
    Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 2025
  • Inexplicably, Kohli was unsettled by the dismissal of young opener Jaiswal and poked at one to nick behind.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • All of these trends are concerning for a soon-to-be-32-year-old pitcher in the second season of a seven-year, $172 million contract.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • The warning was released on Thursday at 9:12 a.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Thursday at 9:36 a.m.
    Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump is also agitated by America's massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
  • Trump is also agitated by America’s massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year.
    Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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