1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
went to investigate the disturbance outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of disturbance
At the same time, some people want to eat out with little disturbance.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
However, these data points are scalable and help record the laser light’s disturbance due to gravity.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
Cemeteries offer quiet environments with minimal ground disturbance and typically lack pesticide use.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Think about it — there’s minimal ground disturbance, very little development and typically no pesticide use.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbance
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
However, these data points are scalable and help record the laser light’s disturbance due to gravity.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
Cemeteries offer quiet environments with minimal ground disturbance and typically lack pesticide use.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Think about it — there’s minimal ground disturbance, very little development and typically no pesticide use.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disturbance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbance
Noun
-
Linderbaum, a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past three seasons, signed a three-year, $81 million deal with the Raiders at the start of free agency, which added additional intrigue to the commotion surrounding Baltimore’s abandonment of the Crosby trade.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Could hear what sounded like gunshots or commotion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations.—
Bridget Byrne,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who sits on the Housing and Homelessness Committee, said Friday the recommendations are intended to better align the city’s homelessness response with local needs while avoiding service disruptions and improving long-term coordination.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sports betting can tempt athletes to manipulate games or lead them to face harassment from gamblers upset with their performance.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
According to the court documents, Vasquez reported the mistreatment after Thanksgiving 2024, and in response, the harassment escalated.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Remove the foil and give the orzo another good stir, then bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the orzo is tender and creamy.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The turmoil has included the sudden resignation of then-Supt.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Twin Cities’ response to a sweeping federal immigration crackdown that threw communities and local economies into turmoil offers a glimpse of what resilience and solidarity look like in practice.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its red, orange and yellow daisy-like blooms keep coming through the hottest months with almost no fuss — a strong choice for gardeners who would rather enjoy their yard than baby it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The plants that earn their place in a hot-weather bed are the ones that keep blooming when the thermometer climbs, draw butterflies and hummingbirds without fuss and reward you with the kind of color that makes a morning cup of coffee on the porch feel like a small vacation.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
October 23 – November 21 Your focus cuts through noise and moves things forward.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Your focus cuts through noise and moves things forward.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Chiefs finished in the bottom quarter of the NFL in sacks and quarterback hurries in 2025, per Pro Football Reference.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
-
No one seems in a hurry to be anywhere else.—
Andrea Domanick,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbance. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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