1
as in annoying
causing annoyance
a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study
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2
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment
there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name
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3
as in unsettling
causing worry or anxiety
a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption
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4
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery
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1
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
all that talk of war disturbed us
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2
as in removing
to change the place or position of
the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone
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3
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move
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4
as in bothering
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
sorry to disturb you while you're working
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5
as in troubling
to cause discomfort to or trouble for
please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disturbing
Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
So did a disturbing AI fake of Parton on her deathbed.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Jan. 2026
Just one day after it was revealed that Stefon Diggs was accused of disturbing behavior, Christian Barmore is being charged with assault.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
Twelve years ago, Tim Carpenter and a fellow FBI agent from the Indianapolis field office drove to rural Rush County to investigate disturbing accusations.
—Verb
Cover the seeds with soil and water gently to avoid disturbing them.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
-
Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.—
-
Thankfully, the best faux garlands offer the look and oftentimes feel of the real thing without the sticky sap or annoying cleanup.—
Adjective
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But the Wolverines were also 21-6 and coming off an embarrassing home loss to Illinois in the final regular-season game.—
-
Alfonsi’s reporting did show up on Canada’s Global TV service, which had been given a feed of the program before the change was made, an embarrassing operational error by CBS News.—
Adjective
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Compared to the swooning Gothic romance of Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, Kenneth Branagh’s Frankenstein is just too perverse — in an unsettling way.—
-
At the same time, the detective assigned to the case begins to uncover secrets about Scout, along with an unsettling breakthrough in Georgia’s death.—
Adjective
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Neighbors fear rising violence Residents said the shooting has left them uneasy.—
-
But by evening, an uneasy calm had settled across the city.—
Verb
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While a small sample size, the historical record for what happens after the S & P 500 has a down month after a seven-month win streak is more reassuring than alarming for the near term.—
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China’s increasingly advanced military capabilities are alarming the West and reshaping the global balance of naval power, analysts said.—
Verb
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Lucas offered to amend the ordinance, removing the requirement for detention facilities, as well as for other facilities or buildings paid for with public safety sales tax money.—
-
If surrounding trees are contributing to harmful debris buildup in your AC unit, pruning overhanging branches or removing the trees might be necessary to protect the unit.—
Verb
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Airlines canceled hundreds of flights, disrupting plans for thousands of travelers during a busy holiday weekend and in a region that experts say is among the most popular for travelers this time of year.—
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One woman, Trish, told CBS News the fear was already disrupting daily life amid an influx of 2,000 federal law enforcement members in the Twin Cities metro area.—
Verb
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Ibrahim keeps bothering me endlessly, touching my leg and thigh.—
-
Ask her if anything is bothering her.—
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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