perturbed 1 of 2

adjective

pər-ˈtərbd How to pronounce perturbed (audio)
Definition of perturbednext
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty a perturbed look betrayed her nervousness at her first job interview

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

perturbed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of perturb
as in disturbed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 perturbed
Verb
And Hinch was jeered again after Jones struck out, bookending the booing and showing Tigers fans are perturbed over the team’s downfall. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026 Lobo appeared perturbed that the shop’s owner brought the claim to the Clark County District Attorney instead of filing a civil suit. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026 Trump’s executive order perturbed many in the architecture profession when it was issued last year. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 12 June 2026 Some users were perturbed by Obuzic’s stories. — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 Brunson was clearly perturbed by the sound of his friend chewing while in front of a microphone. — James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 3 June 2026 However, some users are perturbed by the new home screen. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026 Weston Richey, a 25-year-old Texan photographer with whom Kyra seemed to be perturbed, pulled her for a chat to try to figure out why she was annoyed with him. — Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026 The survey reflects a sense that Americans may be growing less concerned about dying, and more perturbed by the financial implications of remaining alive. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturbed
  1. worried
  2. disturbed
  3. upset
  4. alarmed
  5. nervous
  6. bothered
  7. anxious
  8. distracted
Adjective
  • Christian is worried about Aaron’s gray jersey sportswear look because the fit will need to be perfect, and then, uh-oh, Aaron sews the bodysuit incorrectly and needs to start again.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • The Polymarket spokesperson added that the company is worried about potential duplicative or conflicting compliance requirements that could harm innovation.
    — Ananya Chetia,Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Definition of worried
Verb
  • The location of the digging also could have disturbed another grave that may now be unmarked.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
  • Home to North America’s tallest mountain, Denali's six million acres of wilderness are disturbed by only one road.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • After nearly losing, in what would have been a Cinderella upset, to a completely unheralded Cabo Verde, Argentina benefitted from questionable refereeing decisions in subsequent victories over Egypt and Switzerland.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026
  • Some Carowinds visitors were upset the park did not announce the roller coaster was closed sooner.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
Definition of upset
Verb
  • The idea of abandoning the whole schedule alarmed several health officials, including then-FDA commissioner Marty Makary and Tracy Beth Høeg, one of his top deputies, four sources said.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • The prospect of mass deportations to a country reeling from deadly gang warfare, a deepening humanitarian emergency and record numbers of people who have fled their homes has alarmed Haitians at home and abroad.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of alarmed
Adjective
  • Some nervous observers are going so far as to swear off salads and other raw fruits and vegetables until the outbreak has run its course.
    — Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
  • But Griffin’s recent donation to Moody is not the only indication Republicans could be more nervous about Florida than the Senate races in other bright-red states.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of nervous
Verb
  • The knee has mostly bothered Ohtani on the mound, rather than at the plate.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • As of the time of this writing, almost four months after its publication, the text still contains a typo in its opening lines, suggesting to me that no one close to the author has even bothered to read it with care.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of bothered
Adjective
  • Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
  • America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.
    — The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of anxious
Verb
  • Although the extramarital affair made headlines at the time of Schettino’s trial, there was no evidence presented to say that he was distracted as a result of Cemortan’s presence.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • Roschelle had seemed distracted lately, going to a bunch of doctors’ appointments, talking to Sapphire late at night.
    — Jessica Contrera, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of distracted

Browse Nearby Words

perturbation
perturbed
perturbing
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Cite this Entry

“Perturbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturbed. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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