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
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Yellowjackets season 3 After a successful first two seasons of the twisted thriller show, Yellowjackets returns with season 3 — and its only more violent, bloodthirsty and disturbing.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 14 Feb. 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
Working with regular cinematographer Yves Cape and as always without a score, Franco allows nothing to distract from his actors, observing their characters’ behavior with a forensic detail both transfixing and disturbing.
—Verb
Though the Dark Universe might be dead, Robert Eggers has crafted something like its spiritual successor with a series of disturbing horror features.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbing
Adjective
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For one, Barber and Sweetin co-signed one fan’s take describing the youngest Tanner sibling, Michelle (played by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) as increasingly annoying and borderline spoiled as the series went on.—
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This is occasionally annoying (or more than occasionally).—
Adjective
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The book version of Bridget has come in for derision as an embarrassing relic of postfeminism, screwing up even the most basic personal and professional tasks, and fixated on her thigh circumference and her office crushes.—
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While farting during a walk can be embarrassing, some people embrace the benefits.—
Adjective
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As she’s taken away, Evie locks eyes with Danny and smiles in a way that is incredibly unsettling.—
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The 5-3-2 formation worked, captain Jarrod Bowen led by example, Mohammed Kudus was everywhere and West Ham turned a potentially unsettling afternoon into an affirmation of their character and togetherness.—
Adjective
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Bochner began working in the wake of Abstract Expressionism, whose emphasis on artistic genius, painterly excellence, and formalism left many of his generation feeling uneasy.—
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This has posed a problem for the Kremlin, which does not want to be seen clamping down on those who are essentially patriots but may be uneasy with warts-and-all accounts of Russian battlefield setbacks.—
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.—
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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.—
Verb
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Protests keep disrupting life in Dhaka, the capital.—
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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.—
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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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Tied 1-1 midway through the second period against a Finland team frustrating and stifling the Americans, head coach Mike Sullivan swapped Kyle Connor with Brady Tkachuk on a line with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel.—
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Unfortunately, the setup process is frustrating compared with the competition, as are the site-building tools.—
Cite this Entry
“Disturbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbing. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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