disturb
verb
dis·turb di-ˈstərb 
disturbed; disturbing; disturbs
transitive verb
1
a
: to interfere with : interrupt
disturbing the flow of traffic
b
: to alter the position or arrangement of
the items on her desk had been disturbed
c
: to upset the natural and especially the ecological balance or relations of
wetlands disturbed by development
2
a
: to destroy the tranquility or composure of
The noisy lawnmower disturbed their sleep.
was disturbed by his bizarre behavior
b
: to throw into disorder
disturbing our routine
c
: alarm
trying not to disturb the sleeping dogs
d
: to put to inconvenience
sorry to disturb you at such a late hour
intransitive verb
: to cause disturbance
disturber noun
disturbingly
di-ˈstər-biŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- agitate
- ail
- alarm
- alarum
- bother
- concern
- derail
- discomfort
- discompose
- dismay
- disquiet
- distemper
- distract
- distress
- exercise
- flurry
- frazzle
- freak (out)
- fuss
- hagride
- perturb
- undo
- unhinge
- unsettle
- upset
- weird out
- worry
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I'm sorry to disturb you at such a late hour. She doesn't want to be disturbed while she's working. Don't disturb the baby when he's sleeping. The noise disturbed my concentration.
Recent Examples on the Web Much of the analysis centered on White women policing Black behavior by calling the police when African American bodies -- their very presence -- seemed to disturb them. 
Peniel Joseph, CNN, 22 July 2022 Auroras are created during geomagnetic storms when energy and particles from the sun temporarily disturb Earth’s magnetosphere. Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Aug. 2022 Puberty further makes sleeping early difficult for teenagers, and Lewis notes that menstrual cycles can disturb sleep. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2022 As alarm grows about the potential impact of steps to disturb or drain the peatlands, state and private donors pledged at last year’s COP26 summit to provide at least $1.5 billion toward protecting the Congo basin forest and peatlands. Missy Ryan, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2022 As alarm grows about the potential impact of steps to disturb or drain the peatlands, state and private donors pledged at last year’s COP26 summit to provide at least $1.5 billion toward protecting the Congo basin forest and peatlands. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2022 The institute also asked the public not to disturb the nest. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2022 Building new power lines is costly and controversial as neighbors often oppose transmission lines that can disturb scenic vistas or potentially reduce property values nearby. New York Times, 15 July 2022 The Bluetooth keyboard has quiet keys that won't disturb your coffee shop colleagues or sleeping babies. Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 13 July 2022 See More
Peniel Joseph, CNN, 22 July 2022 Auroras are created during geomagnetic storms when energy and particles from the sun temporarily disturb Earth’s magnetosphere. Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Aug. 2022 Puberty further makes sleeping early difficult for teenagers, and Lewis notes that menstrual cycles can disturb sleep. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2022 As alarm grows about the potential impact of steps to disturb or drain the peatlands, state and private donors pledged at last year’s COP26 summit to provide at least $1.5 billion toward protecting the Congo basin forest and peatlands. Missy Ryan, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2022 As alarm grows about the potential impact of steps to disturb or drain the peatlands, state and private donors pledged at last year’s COP26 summit to provide at least $1.5 billion toward protecting the Congo basin forest and peatlands. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2022 The institute also asked the public not to disturb the nest. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2022 Building new power lines is costly and controversial as neighbors often oppose transmission lines that can disturb scenic vistas or potentially reduce property values nearby. New York Times, 15 July 2022 The Bluetooth keyboard has quiet keys that won't disturb your coffee shop colleagues or sleeping babies. Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 13 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English disturben, destourben, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French destorber, from Latin disturbare, from dis- + turbare to throw into disorder, from turba disorder — more at turbid
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing disturb
Kids Definition
disturb
verb
dis·turb di-ˈstərb
disturbed; disturbing
1
: to interfere with : interrupt
Don't disturb him while he's working.
2
: to change the position or arrangement of
3
: upset entry 1 sense 1, worry
I am very disturbed by your behavior.
4
: to make confused or disordered
disturb the peace
Legal Definition
disturb
transitive verb
dis·turb
1
: to destroy the tranquility or composure of
2
: to throw into disorder
intransitive verb
: to cause disturbance
disturb
verb
1
as in to bother
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy all that talk of war disturbed us Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bother
- distract
- alarm
- worry
- concern
- unsettle
- agitate
- annoy
- perturb
- upset
- haunt
- anger
- distress
- irritate
- derail
- plague
- confuse
- unhinge
- embarrass
- disquiet
- undo
- discomfort
- discompose
- dismay
- ail
- exercise
- rattle
- aggravate
- flurry
- fuss
- harass
- discourage
- frazzle
- exasperate
- distemper
- weird out
- irk
- rile
- pester
- vex
- hagride
- alarum
- get
- disconcert
- fluster
- confound
- bedevil
- harry
- fret
- freak (out)
- bug
- pique
- unnerve
- faze
- grate
- put off
- discomfit
- mortify
- gall
- put out
- chafe
- peeve
- dishearten
- daunt
- discountenance
- shake up
- dispirit
- demoralize
- chivy
- chivvy
- nettle
- abash
- nonplus
- jar
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soothe
- quiet
- calm
- settle
- alleviate
- compose
- allay
- tranquilize
- assuage
- pacify
- placate
- tranquillize
- appease
- mollify
- conciliate
- propitiate
2
as in to remove
to change the place or position of the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone Synonyms & Similar Words
- remove
- relocate
- move
- transfer
- shift
- displace
- transport
- budge
- convey
- dislocate
- reposition
- carry
- replace
- transpose
- alter
- haul
- transmit
- supersede
- drive
- modify
- supplant
- lug
- bear
- cart
- revise
- vary
- transplant
- rework
- tote
- remodel
- remake
- redo
- revamp
- make over
- refashion
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stabilize
- secure
- freeze
- set
- fix
- anchor
- moor
- entrench
- imbed
- lodge
- root
- embed
- intrench
- implant
- engrain
- ingrain
3
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move Synonyms & Similar Words
- disrupt
- confuse
- shuffle
- disarrange
- upset
- disorganize
- disorder
- derange
- dislocate
- muss
- disarray
- scramble
- jumble
- discompose
- muddle
- tousle
- perturb
- unsettle
- dishevel
- disjoint
- snarl
- hash
- tangle
- embroil
- tumble
- rumple
- clutter
- entangle
- mix (up)
- agitate
- mess (up)
- stir (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- regulate
- dispose
- order
- arrange
- organize
- align
- array
- adjust
- straighten (up)
- tidy
- classify
- range
- line up
- line
- marshal
- codify
- fix
- systematize
- marshall
- queue
- aline
- make up
- draw up
- systemize
- methodize
- groom
- spruce (up)
- unscramble
4
as in to worry
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation sorry to disturb you while you're working Synonyms & Similar Words
- bother
- worry
- annoy
- harass
- provoke
- pester
- bug
- irritate
- trouble
- torment
- aggravate
- chivvy
- invade
- chivy
- intrude (upon)
- exasperate
- inconvenience
- irk
- rile
- perturb
- anger
- vex
- antagonize
- bedevil
- fret
- distress
- afflict
- roil
- infuriate
- persecute
- agitate
- gnaw
- plague
- encroach
- rankle
- get
- devil
- dun
- dog
- beset
- hassle
- enrage
- besiege
- pique
- inflame
- grate
- obtrude
- gall
- trespass
- put out
- infringe
- chafe
- peeve
- outrage
- nettle
- beleaguer
- rasp
- incense
- enflame
- butt in
- madden
- cut in (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- leave
- forget
- disregard
- slight
- placate
- please
- appease
- oblige
- satisfy
- disarm
- gratify
- delight
- conciliate
- mollify
- comfort
- content
- gladden
- console
5
as in to trouble
to cause discomfort to or trouble for please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink Synonyms & Similar Words
- bother
- trouble
- weigh
- incommode
- inconvenience
- discommode
- annoy
- upset
- hinder
- impede
- disoblige
- put out
- provoke
- obstruct
- inhibit
- aggravate
- get
- encumber
- hamper
- perturb
- anger
- burden
- irk
- rile
- exasperate
- vex
- hobble
- tie up
- handicap
- inflame
- agitate
- saddle
- shackle
- hold back
- trammel
- bug
- fetter
- pique
- hamstring
- hold up
- gall
- chafe
- peeve
- grate
- manacle
- enflame
- interfere (with)
- nettle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- assist
- help
- accommodate
- facilitate
- favor
- aid
- oblige
- please
- ease
- appease
- smooth
- satisfy
- disarm
- placate
- gratify
- delight
- pacify
- abet
- comfort
- conciliate
- mollify
- content
- gladden
- console
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of disturb are agitate, discompose, disquiet, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.
the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me
In some situations, the words agitate and disturb are roughly equivalent. However, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.
in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work
The synonyms discompose and disturb are sometimes interchangeable, but discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.
discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife
The meanings of disquiet and disturb largely overlap; however, disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.
the disquieting news of factories closing
While the synonyms fluster and disturb are close in meaning, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.
his declaration of love completely flustered her
Although the words perturb and disturb have much in common, perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.
perturbed by her husband's strange behavior
The words upset and disturb can be used in similar contexts, but upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.
the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child
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