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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb discompose contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of discompose are agitate, disquiet, disturb, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," 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 would agitate be a good substitute for discompose?

Although the words agitate and discompose have much in common, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

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

When can disquiet be used instead of discompose?

The synonyms disquiet and discompose are sometimes interchangeable, but disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

Where would disturb be a reasonable alternative to discompose?

The words disturb and discompose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

When could fluster be used to replace discompose?

In some situations, the words fluster and discompose are roughly equivalent. However, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

In what contexts can perturb take the place of discompose?

While in some cases nearly identical to discompose, perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

When is upset a more appropriate choice than discompose?

The words upset and discompose 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

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 discompose In a third discomposing show of baseball in as many days, the Brewers fell, 8-6, to the lowly A's, who looked like anything but in an emphatic weekend-long dismantling of a team that entered in first place. Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discompose
Verb
  • The following story contains graphic language that may disturb some readers.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Warren called his sister and was disturbed by their short conversation.
    Johnny Dodd, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Lower serotonin levels can disrupt this process, leading to constipation.87 Ongoing stress can also affect the gut barrier and make your intestines more sensitive to bacteria.
    Brittany Dube, Health, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Mahomes has a significant edge at quarterback over Jalen Hurts, but Philly’s defense can disrupt his timing in the pocket, contain his scrambles and lock down his receivers.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The devil will persist in bothering Martin Luther until the bald-headed monk dispatches him by hurling a bottle of ink.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Imagine if the press covered all of that without bothering to even question it.
    Jeremy Gruber, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • This should not be confused as some kind of part-time mentoring role, like someone coming in to give a speech once in a while and then clearing off.
    Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Don't let the term air fryer confuse you: These things are pretty much just small convection ovens that use fans to circulate hot air around your food in order to cook it evenly and efficiently.
    Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • View Comments Musk has always been distracted by his other businesses, like SpaceX, The Boring Company, Neuralink, and his social media platform, X, and is now even more distracted by his role reshaping the federal government.
    Chris Isidore, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
  • But the media and the chattering class will focus on it for a few days and Trump will have succeeded in distracting everyone from the real story—the billionaires seizing government to steal from regular people.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Smaller breeds take the field in the first quarter, and the lineup shuffles to play the larger breeds in the fourth quarter.
    Emma Bowman, NPR, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Just one row above the workers, a group of tourists shuffled along and looked askance at the repair work.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Economists have warned that a wide-scale trade war could significantly raise prices, and consumers appear to be worried as well.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Because everything was included, all my son and I had to worry about was what to do and when to eat.
    Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The intrigue: The freezing of federal funds and a takeover of the federal payments system and classified information by Elon Musk, an unelected ally of Trump, alarms the Jewish groups.
    Russell Contreras, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Stevens, a former Treasury Department appointee under former President Barack Obama, said Americans should be alarmed by Musk and DOGE infiltrating federal agencies.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near discompose

Cite this Entry

“Discompose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discompose. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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