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
Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
The Biden administration is complicit in a disturbing and dangerous experiment on children, showing no regard for evidence or ethics.
—Roy Eappen, National Review, 4 Jan. 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
But the unfolding story is intricate, disturbing—gothic—with perhaps an entirely different, soberer lesson to consider.
—Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
The Biden administration is complicit in a disturbing and dangerous experiment on children, showing no regard for evidence or ethics.
—Roy Eappen, National Review, 4 Jan. 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
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This change is particularly annoying since the multiplayer structure hasn't been notably improved since payment was required.PCMAG, PCMAG, 15 Jan. 2025
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This is a book that is charming, intelligent and occasionally annoying.Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In Tagovailoa’s absence, the Dolphins looked terrible, dropping three of four games, including an embarrassing 31-12 thumping courtesy of the lowly Tennessee Titans.C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
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What To Know The latest advances in Kursk come nearly six months after Kyiv first sent troops into the region, seizing a swath of territory in an embarrassing reverse for Putin.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The unsettling echo of the book’s title struck me and many others.Jay Feinman, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
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Ben Stiller directs six of those entries (notably, the first and final three) with an unsettling symmetry; balancing and unbalancing compositions in order to undercut the inherent comforts of routine and uniformity.Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Congress passed the law that would force a sale in April with bipartisan support as lawmakers from both parties have been uneasy over the app’s ties to China.Nik Popli, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
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The addition of such real-life clips—including that of the anchor Jim McKay—gives September 5 a documentary-like feel, cleverly immersing viewers into the uneasy headspace of those inside the studio.Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Protests keep disrupting life in Dhaka, the capital.Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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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
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But the more immediately frustrating part is that the new remote doesn’t have a dedicated button for switching input modes, as previous remotes from LG and countless other remotes do.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 9 Jan. 2025
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As any good leader will tell you, leading is inevitably frustrating and emotionally demanding.Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near disturbing
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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