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 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 As these stars and planets whirl around each other, their gravitational interactions perturb the orbits of other smaller objects in Alpha Centauri, ranging from asteroids and comets — planetesimals left over from the formation of our neighboring system — to particles of dust. Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025 Some in the industry were perturbed that the White House is apparently looking to include more volatile currencies among the holdings. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perturb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturb
Verb
  • No doubt, climate change threatens to muck it all up, disturbing patterns that have existed for centuries.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
  • This tactic—arresting judges for their courtroom decisions—has disturbing echoes in other countries where judicial independence has been undermined: in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkey, and in other places where democracy has given way to executive supremacy.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Too often, however, the temptation to blame individuals or groups for housing ills distracts from the actual debate and prevents all stakeholders from discovering their mutual interests.
    Matt Frazier, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The scientists now plan on developing the technology further, which will include boosting its ability to filter out distracting background noises such as those produced by body movements.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow was popular enough that fans wanted a solo story, but the studio didn't bother to make it until her character was already dead in the major timeline, then skipped the theatrical release, which Johansson sued them about.
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night in Sacramento, 120-106; the Mavs led by more than 20 points in the first half, and the Kings never bothered to muster much of a run to make this interesting.
    Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Still, researchers are clear to reassure people there is no need to be alarmed about the continent hollowing out or there being any sudden landscape changes anytime soon.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2025
  • While bombarded by public service announcements encouraging me to save the whales, feed starving African children, and conserve freshwater, none alarmed me quite as much as those that advertised the hole in the ozone layer.
    Lauren Stienstra, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to Breen’s brother-in-law, Corey Feist, many people worried that any move to take care of their mental health could affect their jobs.
    Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Moran worries that Alvarado, a diabetic breast cancer survivor who suffers from high blood pressure and needs to eat and drink frequently, will have poor access to her medication in detention — or after deportation.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Jalen Brunson endured physical play in the Knicks’ 100-94 Game 2 loss to the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on Monday, alarming fans with another brief but unsettling late-game exit.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • And while terrifying movies are typically critic-proof at the box office, audiences tend to leave the theater feeling unsettled, which translates to poor exit polls.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The incident report was issued Monday at 3:57 p.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Monday at 4:01 p.m.
    Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The season went from concerning to disastrous under Van Nistelrooy.
    Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Are there certain external factors or stimuli that are more likely to agitate someone with dementia?
    Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Stop the Chop, a group organized to reduce helicopter noise, has been agitating for several years to ban nonessential helicopters from flying over the New York metropolitan area.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Perturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturb. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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