as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
the perturbing news meant that we'd have to end our vacation prematurely
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in alarming
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
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Recent Examples of perturbing
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
The movie is presented in the style of a true-crime documentary, with a narrator who occasionally appears on screen to provide commentary on Cobb's perturbing transgressions.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Now Hank has to contend with ride-share apps, boba, and bike lanes that interfere with his commute—adjustments that are perturbing to him.
—Adrienne Matei, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2025
Brown said the broader language in the bill that’s perturbing foreign investors is likely intended to be a safeguard against semantic workarounds for instituting digital service taxes and subsidiary top-up taxes — not to be a general-purpose punitive tool in an escalating trade war.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 11 June 2025
The new and somewhat perturbing actions that have been observed in early trials of the most advanced models comes from the disjunction between the AI's advanced capabilities and its fundamental lack of human-like moral reasoning or emotional capacity.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
But Citron has proved to be one of the most surefire defensive options in this year’s draft, pairing a perturbing timing off the ball with her notable length at 6-foot-1 to grow into one of the nation’s most disruptive defenders.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Even more perturbing is the possibility that the gangs, which have grown more independent from their past elite sponsors, could put forward their own candidates.
—Renata Segura, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2024
Peters, affecting an unnervingly flat Wisconsin accent, gets to give yet another perturbing performance.
—Caroline Framke, Variety, 21 Sep. 2022
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Wait a few hundred-thousand years, and another star will drift into our Oort cloud, perturbing it and potentially triggering new comets arriving in our inner Solar System.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
The collision would trigger fusion, perturbing a magnetic field, which in turn produces power.
—Harry Booth, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Soon, Callaghan — alongside Nic Mosher and Evan Gilbert-Katz — was traversing the country in a shabby RV, documenting the surreal, perturbing and often hilarious fringes of American culture.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
The movie is presented in the style of a true-crime documentary, with a narrator who occasionally appears on screen to provide commentary on Cobb's perturbing transgressions.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Now Hank has to contend with ride-share apps, boba, and bike lanes that interfere with his commute—adjustments that are perturbing to him.
—Adrienne Matei, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2025
Brown said the broader language in the bill that’s perturbing foreign investors is likely intended to be a safeguard against semantic workarounds for instituting digital service taxes and subsidiary top-up taxes — not to be a general-purpose punitive tool in an escalating trade war.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 11 June 2025
The new and somewhat perturbing actions that have been observed in early trials of the most advanced models comes from the disjunction between the AI's advanced capabilities and its fundamental lack of human-like moral reasoning or emotional capacity.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
But Citron has proved to be one of the most surefire defensive options in this year’s draft, pairing a perturbing timing off the ball with her notable length at 6-foot-1 to grow into one of the nation’s most disruptive defenders.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Even more perturbing is the possibility that the gangs, which have grown more independent from their past elite sponsors, could put forward their own candidates.
—Renata Segura, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2024
Peters, affecting an unnervingly flat Wisconsin accent, gets to give yet another perturbing performance.
—Caroline Framke, Variety, 21 Sep. 2022
Verb
Soon, Callaghan — alongside Nic Mosher and Evan Gilbert-Katz — was traversing the country in a shabby RV, documenting the surreal, perturbing and often hilarious fringes of American culture.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Wait a few hundred-thousand years, and another star will drift into our Oort cloud, perturbing it and potentially triggering new comets arriving in our inner Solar System.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
The collision would trigger fusion, perturbing a magnetic field, which in turn produces power.
—Harry Booth, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturbing
Adjective
-
There’s something disturbing about watching these already commonplace delusions about ChatGPT — Your particular version has a soul!—
Vulture,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
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But as dubious therapies and unsettling postcolonial rituals blur the line between wellness and manipulation, Alexa begins uncovering the disturbing forces hidden beneath the retreat’s seductive façade.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Midway through my massage, the boat unmoored itself and set sail—setting off an initially alarming vibrating bed and whirring engine noise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Tensions mount, especially when Matt reenters the picture, and Max Fabian’s fight choreography creates some unsettling moments.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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And that is not even touching on all the unsettling racial humor that came with having Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchliffe — two comedians who have actually faced backlash for hate speech — on the dais for the roast of a Black entertainer.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Verb
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However, many within Starmer’s party say a leadership contest would be distracting for the party and disastrous for the country.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
-
Schapiro, a former university president, stepped down to avoid distracting from the ceremony.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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In Texas, advocates for transgender rights said the settlement with Texas Children’s sets a troubling precedent.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
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The deficit is already on a troubling path this year.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Tell him that his approach to the trip is bothering you.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
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Try taking 10 to 15 minutes each day to write out what's bothering you.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Such obsession can be a frightening emotion both for the person experiencing it and for the target.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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Even more frightening is a judge apologizing to an assassin who risked the lives of 2,000 people while attempting to assassinate the president and his cabinet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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For DiPentima, the bill’s swift progress though the legislature was concerning.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Over the past ten-plus years, American students’ academic achievement has experienced a concerning decline.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturbing. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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