perturb

verb

pər-ˈtərb How to pronounce perturb (audio)
Definition of perturbnext
as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb perturb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of perturb are agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, fluster, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

In what contexts can agitate take the place of perturb?

Although the words agitate and perturb have much in common, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When would discompose be a good substitute for perturb?

While the synonyms discompose and perturb are close in meaning, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When is disquiet a more appropriate choice than perturb?

While in some cases nearly identical to perturb, disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

When can disturb be used instead of perturb?

In some situations, the words disturb and perturb are roughly equivalent. However, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Where would fluster be a reasonable alternative to perturb?

The words fluster and perturb can be used in similar contexts, but fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When might upset be a better fit than perturb?

The meanings of upset and perturb largely overlap; however, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of perturb There is now a 145% tariff on all goods imported from China, and the country has retaliated with its own 125% duty on goods from the U.S. Investors were also perturbed by President Donald Trump's blatant attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. —Julie Coleman, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2025 Massachusetts Democrats appear especially perturbed by Trump, choosing to elbow themselves over who should be the leader of the resistance. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2025 He certainly wasn't perturbed by the experience and has even returned to the restaurant since. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 Dickinson appeared somewhere between perturbed and seething. —Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perturb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturb
  1. disturb
  2. distract
  3. bother
  4. alarm
  5. worry
  6. unsettle
  7. concern
  8. agitate
Verb
  • These days, there’s no shortage of packable, lightweight sleeping pads to make sure no peas (or pebbles) ever disturb your slumber on your next backpacking trip.
    — Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 11 May 2025
  • There’s been plenty of disturbing news lately about energy belligerence and blackouts, for instance.
    — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Definition of disturb
Verb
  • Critics suggested that Johnson timed the announcement to distract from the fact that he’d just been fined for attending a party in defiance of his own COVID restrictions, though the policy had been months in the making.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
  • Keep yourself occupied during the early days and weeks to distract your mind and heart.
    — Anna Pulley, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Definition of distract
Verb
  • That doesn’t mean the implication doesn’t bother him.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
  • Or Xander Schauffele, the defending PGA champion who is surely not bothered by the lack of attention on him early this week.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Definition of bother
Verb
  • Democrats and some Republicans are also alarmed over the ethics of accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign country.
    — Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • The rapid expansion of the Camp House Fire, Jenkins Creek Fire and Munger Shaw Fire has alarmed officials.
    — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Definition of alarm
Verb
  • Long term, some economists worry the back-and-forth on tariffs could strain relationships between the U.S. and its trading partners.
    — Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 9 May 2025
  • Patients worry about losing health care Summer Neal, 31, relies on a lot of medications to keep her healthy.
    — Alexandra Olgin, NPR, 8 May 2025
Definition of worry
Verb
  • They, too, have been unsettled by Mr. Trump’s tariff offensive, his dismissal of allies as freeloaders, and his reluctance to support Ukraine.
    — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 2025
  • His outlandish statements about Gaza have unsettled them.
    — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 12 May 2025
Definition of unsettle
Verb
  • The information provided by Diversified, LLC should not be a substitute for consulting a qualified tax advisor, accountant, or other professional concerning the application of tax law or an individual tax situation.
    — Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • This was not the first time school officials had been concerned with the boy’s behavior.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
Definition of concern
Verb
  • Trump is also agitated by America's massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
  • Trump is also agitated by America’s massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year.
    — Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Definition of agitate

Browse Nearby Words

pertness
perturb
perturbable
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Cite this Entry

“Perturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturb. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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