1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
went to investigate the disturbance outside
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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
And while the starlet coral is making babies, those youngins are still struggling to grow due to the sheer frequency of disturbances, Jones said.
—
Benji Jones, Vox, 4 Feb. 2025
At the height of those disturbances, Trump invited Mark Milley to walk with him from the White House to St. John’s Church and pose with a Bible.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Three weeks later, an officer shot and killed an armed suspect at a hotel on West Stockton Boulevard following a disturbance call.
—William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2025
According to the preliminary investigation, officers responded about 10 p.m. to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance involving a weapon at a home in the 4300 block of Laurel Avenue in the Riss Lake neighborhood on Kansas City’s East Side, according to the highway patrol’s statement.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for disturbance 
Benji Jones, Vox, 4 Feb. 2025
At the height of those disturbances, Trump invited Mark Milley to walk with him from the White House to St. John’s Church and pose with a Bible.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Three weeks later, an officer shot and killed an armed suspect at a hotel on West Stockton Boulevard following a disturbance call.
—William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2025
According to the preliminary investigation, officers responded about 10 p.m. to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance involving a weapon at a home in the 4300 block of Laurel Avenue in the Riss Lake neighborhood on Kansas City’s East Side, according to the highway patrol’s statement.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for disturbance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbance
Noun
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More than 24 hours later, it was stolen, but a commotion soon followed.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Chappell Roan had come up and there was a lot of commotion as there is on these carpets.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Cohen and his co-authors suggest Arctic change favors more polar vortex disruptions, which can trigger more severe winter weather for weeks.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
10 Feb. 2025
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These accommodations empower expecting employees to prioritize their own health and attend crucial prenatal appointments without the burden of extended absences or significant disruptions to their workflow.—
Rebecca L. Palmer,
Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The big picture: This isn't the first time the use of AI at graduation has caused a stir on campus.—
Isaac Avilucea,
Axios,
7 Feb. 2025
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This caused a stir since Portnoy endorsed Donald Trump, and Swift was an outspoken supporter of opposing candidate Kamala Harris.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Her testimony provided fresh insight into her views on presidential power and the Education Department's role in overseeing K-12 schools and colleges, and her take on the ongoing turmoil at the agency she is expected to manage.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
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What is Temporary Protected Status? TPS is a federal program that gives temporary deportation protections and work permits to people in the U.S. from countries in turmoil.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Here's what the locals think 04:30 9 minute read Published 6:00 AM EST, Sun February 9, 2025 Nuuk, Greenland CNN — The comings and goings at Greenland’s new international airport in its capital Nuuk look a bit different of late, as journalists like me come here to see what all the fuss is about.—
Donie O'Sullivan,
CNN,
9 Feb. 2025
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Dying follows three terminally ill individuals and their families in the last months of their lives, presenting these people with a minimum of fuss and sentiment.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In high school sports, things can change in a hurry.—
Todd Abeln,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Thursday night, a tie game after the first period turned one-sided in a hurry, as the Seattle Kraken scored four goals in less than six minutes and cruised to a 6-2 win at Climate Pledge Arena.—
Curtis Pashelka,
The Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This neighbor seems to keep complaining about noise but the noise is all around us!—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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Pickleball noise has become a national scourge, The New York Times reported in June.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near disturbance
Cite this Entry
“Disturbance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbance. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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