Synonyms of disturb

disturb

verb

di-ˈstərb 

1

as in to bother

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

all that talk of war disturbed us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• distract
• worry
• alarm
• concern
• unsettle
• agitate
• annoy
• perturb
• upset
• anger
• haunt
• distress
• irritate
• derail
• plague
• confuse
• unhinge
• discomfort
• undo
• embarrass
• disquiet
• discompose
• ail
• exercise
• dismay
• rattle
• aggravate
• fuss
• freak (out)
• harass
• flurry
• discourage
• exasperate
• distemper
• bug
• weird out
• irk
• rile
• pester
• vex
• frazzle
• alarum
• hagride
• chivvy
• bedevil
• fret
• disconcert
• confound
• fluster
• put off
• pique
• put out
• faze
• chafe
• harry
• get
• grate
• mortify
• unnerve
• discomfit
• gall
• dishearten
• shake up
• discountenance
• daunt
• demoralize
• chivy
• dispirit
• nettle
• abash
• jar
• peeve
• nonplus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settle
• calm
• quiet
• soothe
• compose
• alleviate
• allay
• assuage
• tranquilize
• tranquillize
• placate
• appease
• pacify
• conciliate
• mollify
• 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
• replace
• carry
• dislocate
• reposition
• haul
• transmit
• alter
• transpose
• supersede
• drive
• modify
• supplant
• revise
• vary
• bear
• lug
• cart
• remodel
• transplant
• remake
• tote
• rework
• redo
• revamp
• make over
• refashion

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stabilize
• secure
• freeze
• set
• fix
• anchor
• moor
• entrench
• lodge
• imbed
• root
• embed
• intrench
• implant
• ingrain
• engrain

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
• upset
• disarrange
• disorganize
• derange
• disarray
• dislocate
• scramble
• muss
• muddle
• mix (up)
• discompose
• disorder
• jumble
• tumble
• unsettle
• perturb
• hash
• snarl
• tousle
• disjoint
• dishevel
• embroil
• tangle
• mess (up)
• rumple
• entangle
• stir (up)
• clutter
• agitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regulate
• order
• dispose
• organize
• arrange
• array
• draw up
• range
• straighten (up)
• align
• tidy
• adjust
• classify
• line up
• line
• marshal
• marshall
• queue
• codify
• fix
• systematize
• make up
• aline
• groom
• systemize
• spruce (up)
• methodize
• 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
• intrude (upon)
• irritate
• torment
• trouble
• aggravate
• chivvy
• invade
• anger
• chivy
• exasperate
• rile
• irk
• vex
• inconvenience
• perturb
• distress
• antagonize
• fret
• bedevil
• persecute
• gnaw
• afflict
• devil
• dog
• infuriate
• roil
• plague
• beset
• agitate
• dun
• rankle
• encroach
• get
• besiege
• put out
• hassle
• inflame
• pique
• enrage
• trespass
• chafe
• grate
• infringe
• obtrude
• gall
• outrage
• cut in (on)
• rasp
• enflame
• beleaguer
• incense
• peeve
• butt in
• madden
• nettle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• leave
• forget
• disregard
• slight
• please
• appease
• placate
• oblige
• satisfy
• disarm
• delight
• gratify
• conciliate
• mollify
• comfort
• content
• gladden
• console

5

as in to weigh

to cause discomfort to or trouble for

please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• weigh
• trouble
• inconvenience
• incommode
• put out
• discommode
• hinder
• upset
• impede
• annoy
• disoblige
• obstruct
• provoke
• inhibit
• encumber
• aggravate
• hamper
• burden
• anger
• interfere (with)
• perturb
• bug
• exasperate
• rile
• vex
• irk
• tie up
• hobble
• hold back
• handicap
• inflame
• saddle
• shackle
• agitate
• fetter
• hamstring
• hold up
• get
• pique
• chafe
• gall
• enflame
• trammel
• grate
• peeve
• manacle
• nettle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assist
• help
• accommodate
• favor
• facilitate
• aid
• oblige
• ease
• please
• smooth
• appease
• satisfy
• disarm
• delight
• gratify
• abet
• placate
• pacify
• comfort
• conciliate
• mollify
• content
• console
• gladden

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disturb contrast with its synonyms?

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

When is it sensible to use agitate instead of disturb?

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

When is discompose a more appropriate choice than disturb?

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

When can disquiet be used instead of disturb?

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

When would fluster be a good substitute for disturb?

While the synonyms fluster and disturb are close in meaning, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When could perturb be used to replace disturb?

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

In what contexts can upset take the place of disturb?

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disturb

This feels a bit forced and corny, and the director becomes even more outlandish depicting Maggi’s dreams as their relationship feels fully unsalvageable: a rooster disturbs him in real life, then visits him in giant, anthropomorphized form in his dream to injure him or worse. —David Katz, IndieWire, 18 May 2025

Anything disturbing the film screening drives me mad. —Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025

These days, there’s no shortage of packable, lightweight sleeping pads to make sure no peas (or pebbles) ever disturb your slumber on your next backpacking trip. —Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 11 May 2025

The images of those disturbing losses cycled through social media and quickly made it onto local news. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025