1
as in commotions
a state of noisy, confused activity
went to investigate the disturbance outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disruptions
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 harassments
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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Recent Examples of disturbances
Meteorologists say a large-scale upper-level trough over the Plains is helping drive a series of disturbances that will move east through the day.
—
Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
But since that ridge shifted from Northern California in early April, the new pattern has invited multiple low-pressure disturbances into the region.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Some of the gatherings have led to disturbances near malls, including in Towson and White Marsh.
—Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Police also allegedly received numerous reports of fights and disturbances in different areas of the Jennings Beach grounds and parking lots.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
The measurements reveal that the slow solar wind emerges from the sun's surface in a nonuniform manner, producing small-scale magnetic-field disturbances.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Quantum computers are highly sensitive systems where even small disturbances can lead to errors.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026
The team is a military police unit trained to respond to civil disturbances.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
Still, the disturbances to the energy sector have left aviation leaders feeling as though there’s no quick fix.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
But since that ridge shifted from Northern California in early April, the new pattern has invited multiple low-pressure disturbances into the region.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Some of the gatherings have led to disturbances near malls, including in Towson and White Marsh.
—Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Police also allegedly received numerous reports of fights and disturbances in different areas of the Jennings Beach grounds and parking lots.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
The measurements reveal that the slow solar wind emerges from the sun's surface in a nonuniform manner, producing small-scale magnetic-field disturbances.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Quantum computers are highly sensitive systems where even small disturbances can lead to errors.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026
The team is a military police unit trained to respond to civil disturbances.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
Still, the disturbances to the energy sector have left aviation leaders feeling as though there’s no quick fix.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disturbances
Noun
-
Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 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
-
In Edgewater, a grandmother remembers when heat waves could max out the power grid, hackers could steal credit card numbers, and supply chain disruptions could trigger medication, food or even toilet paper shortages.—
David Awschalom,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The everyday realities of life under the occupation, including the hassles and harassments of bureaucratic delays and security checkpoints, can suddenly become matters of life and death.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
About two couples, connected and dependent on one another, raising their kids alongside each other, facing the same turmoils, the same existential questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Mayer and Strong offer a broad pop-history lesson, in which the same tensions and turmoils churn on and on in their terrible cycle throughout the decades; the only thing that’s changed are the aesthetics.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
The first clip showed Duff making cat and bird noises as Townes, who turns 2 on May 3, played with her hair and smiled at the camera.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Plus sundry hallucinations, bad dreams, possession, dark spaces, creepy noises, fraught family relations — and, as with so many horror stories, a bad thing in the past bringing down the future.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Refrigerated pie crust helps this pie come together with just a few stirs of the whisk.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some storms could produce hail larger than 3 inches in diameter, especially with stronger rotating cells.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Hail damage contributed to $51 billion in insured losses last year from severe storms, according to the Insurance Information Institute.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disturbances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disturbances. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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