Disturbing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /di-ˈstər-biŋ/ dis·turb·ing

Meaning & Definition of Disturbing

Disturbing (adjective)

  1. causing feelings of worry, concern, or anxiety

Disturbing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing annoyance

    "a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study"

    similar: abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, vexing
    related: burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome, biting, grating, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny
    near: delightful, pleasing

  2. causing embarrassment

    "there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name"

    similar: awkward, discomfiting, disconcerting, embarrassing, flustering, uncomfortable
    related: confusing, difficult, disagreeable, impossible, inconvenient, intolerable, troublesome, unpleasant, unwieldy, unsettling, debasing, degrading, demeaning, humbling, humiliating, mortifying
    near: agreeable, comfortable, convenient, pleasing

  3. causing worry or anxiety

    "a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption"

    similar: discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, nagging, nasty, perturbing, troublesome, troubling, troublous, unsettling, upsetting, worrisome
    related: daunting, demoralizing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting, chilling, frightening, scary, harassing, persecutive, persecutory, alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, shocking, terrible, terrifying
    opposite: reassuring
    near: calming, quieting, settling, soothing, comforting, consoling, dreamy, inviting, lulling, narcotic, pacifying, relaxing, sedative, tranquilizing

  4. marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings

    "a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery"

    similar: agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous, restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome
    related: bothersome, troublesome, foreboding, misgiving, discouraging, disheartening, strained, restive, unrestful, awkward, embarrassing
    opposite: calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil
    near: restful, pacific

Disturbing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

    "all that talk of war disturbed us"

    similar: agitating, ailing, alarming, bothering, concerning, derailing, discomforting, discomposing, dismaying, disquieting, distempering, distracting, distressing, exercising, flurrying, frazzling, freaking (out), fussing, hagriding, perturbing, undoing, unhinging, unsettling, upsetting, weirding out, worrying
    related: aggravating, angering, annoying, bugging, chafing, chivying, exasperating, fretting, galling, getting, grating, harassing, harrying, irking, irritating, nettling, peeving, pestering, piquing, putting off, putting out, riling, vexing, bedeviling, haunting, plaguing, abashing, confounding, confusing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discountenancing, embarrassing, fazing, flustering, jarring, mortifying, nonplussing, rattling, shaking up, daunting, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting, unnerving
    opposite: calming, composing, quieting, settling, soothing, tranquilizing
    near: allaying, alleviating, assuaging, appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, pacifying, placating, propitiating

  2. to change the place or position of

    "the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone"

    similar: budging, dislocating, displacing, moving, relocating, removing, repositioning, shifting, transferring, transposing
    related: bearing, carrying, carting, conveying, driving, hauling, lugging, toting, transmitting, transplanting, transporting, replacing, superseding, supplanting, altering, making over, modifying, redoing, refashioning, remaking, remodeling, revamping, revising, reworking, varying
    near: anchoring, fixing, freezing, mooring, securing, setting, stabilizing, embedding, entrenching, implanting, ingraining, lodging, rooting

  3. to undo the proper order or arrangement of

    "her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move"

    similar: confusing, deranging, disarranging, disarraying, discomposing, disheveling, disjointing, dislocating, disordering, disorganizing, disrupting, hashing, jumbling, messing (up), mixing (up), muddling, mussing, rumpling, scrambling, shuffling, tousling, tumbling, upsetting
    related: embroiling, entangling, snarling, tangling, agitating, perturbing, stirring (up), unsettling, cluttering
    opposite: arranging, arraying, disposing, drawing up, marshaling, ordering, organizing, ranging, regulating, straightening (up), tidying
    near: aligning, lining, lining up, queuing, classifying, codifying, methodizing, systematizing, systemizing, adjusting, fixing, grooming, making up, sprucing (up), unscrambling

  4. to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation

    "sorry to disturb you while you're working"

    similar: bothering, bugging, chivying, intruding (upon), pestering
    related: inconveniencing, troubling, aggravating, annoying, bedeviling, chafing, deviling, dogging, dunning, exasperating, fretting, galling, getting, gnawing, grating, hassling, irking, irritating, nettling, peeving, persecuting, piquing, putting out, rankling, rasping, riling, roiling, tormenting, vexing, worrying, beleaguering, besetting, besieging, distressing, plaguing, afflicting, harassing, provoking, angering, antagonizing, enraging, incensing, inflaming, infuriating, maddening, outraging, agitating, perturbing, butting in, cutting in (on), obtruding, encroaching, infringing, invading, trespassing
    near: disregarding, forgetting, ignoring, leaving, slighting, appeasing, conciliating, disarming, mollifying, obliging, placating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, pleasing, satisfying, comforting, consoling, contenting

  5. to cause discomfort to or trouble for

    "please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink"

    similar: discommoding, disobliging, incommoding, inconveniencing, putting out, troubling
    related: burdening, encumbering, saddling, weighing, fettering, hampering, hamstringing, handicapping, hindering, hobbling, holding back, holding up, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, obstructing, shackling, trammeling, tying up, aggravating, angering, annoying, bothering, bugging, chafing, exasperating, galling, getting, irking, nettling, peeving, piquing, riling, vexing, grating, inflaming, provoking, agitating, perturbing, upsetting
    opposite: accommodating, favoring, obliging
    near: abetting, aiding, assisting, helping, easing, facilitating, smoothing, appeasing, conciliating, disarming, mollifying, pacifying, placating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, pleasing, satisfying, comforting, consoling, contenting

Related Entry: Disturb (verb)

Disturb is a different word from Disturbing. The synonyms below are for disturb, not for disturbing.

  1. to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

    "all that talk of war disturbed us"

    similar: agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry
    related: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve
    opposite: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize
    near: allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

  2. to change the place or position of

    "the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone"

    similar: budge, dislocate, displace, move, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose
    related: bear, carry, cart, convey, drive, haul, lug, tote, transmit, transplant, transport, replace, supersede, supplant, alter, make over, modify, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary
    near: anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize, embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, root

  3. to undo the proper order or arrangement of

    "her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move"

    similar: confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset
    related: embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle, agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle, clutter
    opposite: arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy
    near: align, line, line up, queue, classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize, adjust, fix, groom, make up, spruce (up), unscramble

  4. to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation

    "sorry to disturb you while you're working"

    similar: bother, bug, chivy, intrude (upon), pester
    related: inconvenience, trouble, aggravate, annoy, bedevil, chafe, devil, dog, dun, exasperate, fret, gall, get, gnaw, grate, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rankle, rasp, rile, roil, torment, vex, worry, beleaguer, beset, besiege, distress, plague, afflict, harass, provoke, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, agitate, perturb, butt in, cut in (on), obtrude, encroach, infringe, invade, trespass
    near: disregard, forget, ignore, leave, slight, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, oblige, placate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, comfort, console, content

  5. to cause discomfort to or trouble for

    "please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink"

    similar: discommode, disoblige, incommode, inconvenience, put out, trouble
    related: burden, encumber, saddle, weigh, fetter, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, get, irk, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex, grate, inflame, provoke, agitate, perturb, upset
    opposite: accommodate, favor, oblige
    near: abet, aid, assist, help, ease, facilitate, smooth, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, comfort, console, content

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Disturbing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disturbing:

abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, vexing, awkward, discomfiting, disconcerting, embarrassing, flustering, uncomfortable, discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, nagging, nasty, perturbing, troublesome

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disturbing

Words with the opposite meaning of Disturbing:

reassuring, calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil, composing, settling, soothing, tranquilizing, arranging, arraying, disposing, drawing up, marshaling, ordering, organizing, ranging, regulating, straightening (up), tidying, accommodating, favoring, obliging

Related Words for Disturbing

burdensome, displeasing, importunate, importune, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, trying, biting, grating, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny, difficult, disagreeable, impossible, inconvenient, intolerable, unpleasant, unwieldy, debasing

Near Antonyms of Disturbing

delightful, pleasing, agreeable, convenient, comforting, consoling, dreamy, inviting, lulling, narcotic, pacifying, relaxing, sedative, restful, pacific, allaying, alleviating, assuaging, appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, placating, propitiating, anchoring, fixing, freezing, mooring, securing, setting, stabilizing

Word Forms of Disturbing

Derived words: disturbingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Disturbing

First known use: 1594

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Disturbing

Frequently Asked Questions about Disturbing

What does "Disturbing" mean?

"Disturbing" means causing feelings of worry, concern, or anxiety. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: causing feelings of worry, concern, or anxiety. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Disturbing"?

Other words for "Disturbing" include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, exasperating and frustrating. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Disturbing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Disturbing"?

There are 276 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Disturbing". Common alternatives include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, exasperating, frustrating, galling and irksome.

What is the opposite of "Disturbing"?

Antonyms of "Disturbing" include reassuring, calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting and tranquil. Near antonyms include delightful, pleasing, agreeable and convenient.

How do you use "Disturbing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disturbing" in a sentence: "a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study"; "there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name"; "a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption".

Is "Disturbing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Disturbing" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Disturbing" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Disturbing" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Disturbing"?

"Disturbing" is pronounced /di-ˈstər-biŋ/ and divided into syllables as dis·turb·ing.