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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of disturbing
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Thornburg's conviction and sentence mark a significant chapter in one of Fort Worth's most disturbing murder cases in recent years.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Samuel took this image from a distance and left quickly to avoid disturbing the bird.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for disturbing 
Adjective
That hint of cognitive dissonance makes the film almost nauseatingly gripping, and disturbing.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Thornburg's conviction and sentence mark a significant chapter in one of Fort Worth's most disturbing murder cases in recent years.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
Water from the bottom of the tray to avoid disturbing seeds.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Samuel took this image from a distance and left quickly to avoid disturbing the bird.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
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By Marci Robin December 19, 2024 Normally, know-it-alls are kind of annoying.Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Dec. 2024
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But for Netflix’s biggest series, as annoying as this is, there are not exactly mountains of evidence that this matters for its biggest series.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Usually such open nepotism would be seen as slightly embarrassing, but not to this crowd.Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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The season was spinning out of control, with the Niners losing three straight games, each in increasingly embarrassing fashion, and another loss — especially to a team with a rookie quarterback and a first-time head coach — would likely put it in an irreversible tailspin.Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Concerns With Imported Toys The report highlights a number of unsettling realities surrounding toys purchased by U.S. consumers directly from online retailers located overseas.Mia Taylor, Parents, 27 Nov. 2024
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Simply sharing the final score — Dallas Cowboys 34, Washington Commanders 26 — does not come close to explaining the bizarre ending and unsettling ways the home team lost with contributions from all three phases.Ben Standig, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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There’s no shortage of movies that have looked at Dylan’s music and his uneasy relationship to fame.David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
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Merkel recalled how Putin, knowing that she had once been wounded by a dog and was uneasy around them, had infamously brought his large Labrador to a meeting between them in 2007.Christian Edwards, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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As the name implies, this cleaner, infused with rosemary-leaf extract, will set you up for a good hair week, removing dirt, oil, and product build-up from your scalp and strands.Lisa DeSantis, Glamour, 11 Dec. 2024
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The company also developed ultrasonic chemical decontamination technology for removing radioactive contaminants from nuclear reactor coolant pumps.Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Climate change exacerbates the threats with rising temperatures disrupting migration patterns and diminishing the availability of milkweed, the monarch caterpillar's essential food source.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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The decision depends on whether their conflict is disrupting the workplace.Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Treatment starts with testing to make sure juniper is the allergen that's bothering you.Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Dec. 2024
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The Kansas Jayhawks were bothering Shedeur Sanders all day, but the star quarterback especially took exception to one hit.Ryan Morik, Fox News, 24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Prediction: Bengals 37, Cowboys 30 Matt Levine: The Bengals have been one of the more frustrating teams this season.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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The Eagles know their offense can’t devolve into a frustrating mess for a second straight season.Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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