1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
went to investigate the disturbance outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disruption
an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed
caused a disturbance in the carefully ordered proceedings
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
the assistant apologized for the disturbance and got straight to the point
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disturbance
One of the diagnostic criteria of anorexia nervosa is body image disturbance, the experience of perceiving oneself as larger than one actually is.
—
Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Leonhard-Hooper’s script is ovaries-to-the-wall zany, but there’s disturbance and heartache in it, too.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026
Since a nucleus is far better shielded from environmental disturbances than the electrons used in atomic clocks, nuclear clocks could eventually become the most precise timekeepers ever built.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Then, if somebody living in a hotel commits a crime, that kicks off big disturbances and reactions, and so on.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbance
Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Leonhard-Hooper’s script is ovaries-to-the-wall zany, but there’s disturbance and heartache in it, too.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026
Since a nucleus is far better shielded from environmental disturbances than the electrons used in atomic clocks, nuclear clocks could eventually become the most precise timekeepers ever built.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Then, if somebody living in a hotel commits a crime, that kicks off big disturbances and reactions, and so on.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbance
Noun
-
Then there was silence, followed by sounds of a commotion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
While most of those visitors are coming with good intentions, there’s always the possibility that bad actors will take advantage of the crowds and commotion to cause damage and inflict harm.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The company apologized to its customers for the disruption.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
13 June 2026
-
Women in their 30s and 40s experiencing persistent fatigue, mood changes, sleep disruption, irritability, anxiety or digestive issues may want to ask specifically whether perimenopause could be the underlying cause before accepting a diagnosis of anxiety, depression or a thyroid condition.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Two children at a Redlands elementary school faced racial harassment, discrimination and teasing for months, resulting in them being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, their mother alleged in a lawsuit filed against the school district.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The Big 12 cites cases where government threats of retaliation, including prosecution and legal harassment, constitute an infringement of the freedom of association.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The school also runs a cooking basics program that covers mise en place, knife skills, soup and stock production, sauce making and a wide range of cooking methods — roasting, grilling, sautéing, pan-frying, stir-frying, braising, poaching and steaming.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
-
That same basics camp walks students through roasting, grilling, sautéing, pan-frying, stir-frying, braising, poaching and steaming.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Threats have always been a part of United States history, often manifesting in times of political turmoil or cultural tension.—
Rund Abdelfatah,
NPR,
11 June 2026
-
The region's economic disparity is one of the forces that led to turmoil that culminated in attacks by a small number of extremists among the Uyghurs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Some onlookers wandering past asked what all the fuss was about.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
-
Cars work in some places and become a headache in others, while Italy’s train network can move travelers between major cities with minimal fuss.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Hikers and walkers should also make noise when out in bear country, especially at dusk and dawn, and dogs should be leashed and supervised.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Ambient sounds, nature recordings, white-noise tracks and ASMR-style content can generate passive income through YouTube, Spotify and other streaming platforms.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Options trading in the fund has turned bearish in a hurry and is now pointing toward further downside.—
Oliver Renick,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
-
Sure, there are lots of places, but all of the best ones fill up in a hurry.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbance. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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