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
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
These questions remain as A Lot of Nothing careens to a shock-value ending that’s more perturbing than exciting.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2022
Harry Booth, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
These questions remain as A Lot of Nothing careens to a shock-value ending that’s more perturbing than exciting.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2022
Verb
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
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With 31 percent of adults and 80 percent of adolescents not meeting recommended levels of physical activity, researchers have unveiled a disturbing glimpse of what the long-term impacts on our health and appearance could look like.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The film follows his lead, constructing a near-relentless study of misery that culminates in a disturbing finale.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This isn’t in itself alarming in the moment, though such a narrow market often works against the duration of an advance.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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In a city home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel, Mamdani’s message has struck sharply different chords, galvanizing left-leaning activists while alarming many Jewish voters who view his words as inflammatory.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Rather, the Lamb baby is literally the face of a lamb and the body of a human child, which is unsettling in a wholly novel way.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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The problem is that among the general public, the optics are unsettling.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Karbler notes that Bigelow resisted that depiction for fear of distracting from the emotional moment.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
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Surprisingly, the injury helped him in this regard by distracting him from overanalyzing his game.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To have two concussions in 12 days is troubling, particularly since Tanev had a concussion history prior to that.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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That’s troubling news for studio Neon and even scarier for writer/director Chris Stuckmann, a YouTube film critic from Ohio who made the leap to feature filmmaking in Hollywood thanks to Mike Flanagan.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
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Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But the trailer also offers a glimpse a frightening car crash that derails their career and life plans.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
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There were no spooky increases at the pumps or frightening fuel costs this Halloween.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The employee replied that Green didn't mention suicide by cop specifically, but noted his comments remained concerning.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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Occasional use of those protein powders isn’t as concerning as a person making protein shakes three times a day.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturbing. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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