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
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
The real star of Holland is Cave’s style, which builds a disturbing portrait of suburban unease.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 20 Dec. 2024
Water from the bottom of the tray to avoid disturbing seeds.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Adjective
Adding to the gravity of the situation is the disturbing presence of children as young as 10 years old, toiling alongside adults in these hazardous environments, deprived of their childhood and education.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
The real star of Holland is Cave’s style, which builds a disturbing portrait of suburban unease.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
Though the Dark Universe might be dead, Robert Eggers has crafted something like its spiritual successor with a series of disturbing horror features.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 20 Dec. 2024
Water from the bottom of the tray to avoid disturbing seeds.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for disturbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
-
Frozen snack foods sold under Whole Foods Market’s 365 store brand got recalled nationwide for not being what the packaging says, an annoying mistake to some people but a possibly fatal one to other customers.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
-
The Achilles — and any accompanying tendonitis — is the most annoying and concerning issue for a skill player who turns 29 in June.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Kursk incursion was embarrassing for Moscow and raised questions over its ability to protect its own borders.—
Maria Kostenko, Christian Edwards and Sophie Tanno,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Despite the embarrassing moment, Seyfried went home a winner at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As Jeffrey’s amateur investigation spirals deeper into danger, he’s forced to confront the unsettling coexistence of idyllic suburban life and brutal violence lurking beneath the surface.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Each weekly episode drop since Valentine’s Day has served up an unsettling number of recognizable love songs (and, soon, the first-ever live musical performance for its March 9 reunion ep).—
Clover Hope,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Based on the Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture Of The Gods), the story follows a demon child raised by humans, who forms an uneasy alliance with the dragon prince, Ao Bing, in an epic battle to protect their clans.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Some medical and public-health institutions have settled into an uneasy détente with smoking alternatives.—
Carrie Battan,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The acids in toner can also act as chemical exfoliants, removing any extra dead skin cells or other debris that might build up.—
Amanda Svachula,
Health,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Start by removing the old hardware using a screwdriver, saving the screws if needed, and clean the surface to remove any residue.—
Perri Ormont Blumberg,
Architectural Digest,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Protests keep disrupting life in Dhaka, the capital.—
Saif Hasnat Atul Loke,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
-
For example, Russian GPS jamming near Kaliningrad in 2023 affected over 46,000 flights to and from Europe, disrupting civilian and military operations alike.—
Jack Hidary,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
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The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Joe Biden’s administration in 2023 proposed a reworked version of Obama’s rule, but the Biden administration never finalized the rule, frustrating advocates.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Very few severe crashes in Sacramento are followed by an arrest, and several survivors of crashes have previously said that soft or nonexistent charges were frustrating and demeaning.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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