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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disquiet contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disquiet are agitate, discompose, disturb, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

In what contexts can agitate take the place of disquiet?

While the synonyms agitate and disquiet are close in meaning, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When might discompose be a better fit than disquiet?

Although the words discompose and disquiet have much in common, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When is disturb a more appropriate choice than disquiet?

The words disturb and disquiet can be used in similar contexts, but disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Where would fluster be a reasonable alternative to disquiet?

The meanings of fluster and disquiet largely overlap; however, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When could perturb be used to replace disquiet?

The synonyms perturb and disquiet are sometimes interchangeable, but perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

When can upset be used instead of disquiet?

The words upset and disquiet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

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 disquiet
Noun
Both reflect the internal disquiet and rage that result from despair—in particular despair arising from scrutiny of dominant power structures—whether within governments, communities, or families. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 25 Sep. 2024 And yet there have been signs of disquiet in the Python kingdom. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2024
Verb
His Blackness disquieted the American ideals and sensibilities that proclaim us all equal. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 26 May 2023 There are many conservatives, in politics and the media, who are disquieted about what DeSantis has done, vis-à-vis Disney. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 8 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for disquiet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disquiet
Noun
  • The new duties, which follow Trump’s previous tariffs on goods from China, Mexico and Canada, are set to raise costs and cause turmoil for countless fashion businesses.
    Marc Bain and Joan Kennedy, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
  • President Trump’s tariffs cause turmoil among the markets and U.S. allies.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And as spring break trips and summer vacations draw near, stories of green-card and visa holders being detained have sparked new concerns about traveling.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Moon said his goal is to represent the concerns of his neighbors, pointing to the $70,000 that has been raised to fulfill the task at hand.
    Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This abuse of immigration law should alarm us all, citizens and noncitizens alike.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Tariff threats are also alarming Canadians, particularly in Quebec, where more than 70% of the province’s exports are sent to the U.S.
    Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In 1968, amid urban unrest eerily similar to the tensions today, dedicated scholars built institutes such as the Urban Institute and Johns Hopkins’ Center for Metropolitan Planning and Research to bring rigorous evidence to bear on pressing social problems.
    Andrew V. Papachristos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Political unrest urged by anti-Trump liberals, coupled with attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships due to founder Elon Musk’s close association with the president, appears to be pushing some people to buy guns for self-defense.
    Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Adolescence escalates all these issues and fears to their most horrifying symbolic end.
    Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The spread of antivaccine misinformation in the previous year had caused fear and uncertainty, which kept many families from vaccinating their children against measles.
    Dr. Josh Green, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Musk ‘brand tornado crisis’ hits sales Analysts continue to worry that Musk’s actions elsewhere are hurting Tesla.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Throughout the night, Booker read letters from constituents worried about losing access to affordable health care, emphasizing that these concerns were not abstract but deeply personal for millions of people.
    Nik Popli, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The event itself has become a subject of unease among journalists and others who question the optics of the press mingling with high-profile government officials at a swanky soiree.
    Theresa Braine, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The dismissal is a surprise given the timing, but multiple league sources expected Memphis to make changes this offseason due to growing discontent between Jenkins and the players, unease among his assistants, and differing visions between Jenkins and the front office on how to play.
    Kelly Iko, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • They are marketed as an alternative for pain relief, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
    Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Recently announced job cuts at Johns Hopkins University, one of Maryland’s largest employers, and tens of thousands of others across the nation, however, are happening with an unsettling speed and efficiency, leaving countless workers in a state of anxiety, uncertainty and despair.
    Alan M. Langlieb, Baltimore Sun, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disquiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disquiet. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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