DISORDER Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

disorder 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disorder

as in chaos

a state in which everything is out of order the general disorder of the room after the guests finally left the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disease

an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning afflicted all her life with a nervous disorder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disorder

2 of 2

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dər

as in to disrupt

to undo the proper order or arrangement of be careful not to disorder the carefully arranged contents of the dresser

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 disorder

Noun

According to the National Institutes of Health, milk thistle has historically been used to combat liver disorders. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Unfortunately, few people with the disorder ever gain access to these treatments. — Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

A lot of the research on body image and media psychology has found that exposure time on social media very much correlates with body image issues and disordered eating tendencies. — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 5 May 2026 When that authority tells a young person that their identity is disordered and must be changed, the harm isn’t just theoretical. — A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disorder

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorder

Noun

The footage mixes high-speed chases and explosive action with comedic beats, framing a story built around chaos, mismatched heroism and rising stakes as the mission unfolds.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Although this puts a little bit of the chaos on hold, there will now be a further influx of lawsuits filed in state court, who have been presenting different arguments in their filings.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of chaos

Noun

Those enrolled have experienced CLBP due to degenerative disc disease (DDD) for less than five years.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Prices of the precious commodity have swung dramatically from one season to the next, particularly as issues such as climate change, water scarcity and pest and disease pressures persist.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of disease

Verb

The country is mired in a war with Iran with no graceful exit opportunities; a new round of tariffs threatens to further disrupt fragile global trade relations; and the domestic economy faces inflation combined with paltry growth.

— Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
Warships, mammoth bones and parts of ancient constructions all have emerged from the slumping waters of the Danube, the Rhine and other rivers in the scorching drought that has also disrupted trade, power and water supplies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of disrupt

Noun

The wingers were the stand-out performers during the pre-season trip to Asia, with Antoine Semenyo in particular — but also Savinho — causing havoc with their dribbling.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
The havoc a hacker wreaks using their attack could be catastrophic.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of havoc

Noun

Several iterations of the idea have since taken shape, expanding to refugees, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, seniors with chronic illness.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
The sources haven’t been identified for nine of the ongoing foodborne illness outbreaks and two of the ongoing Salmonella outbreaks.

— Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of illness

Noun

Instead Justine shows up to slit his throat and take the baby from him, leaving him for dead; the child winds up disappearing with Holtz into a hell dimension.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Desperate to believe his life is about to change, Tommy steals Wayne’s car and begins driving his band from Kansas City to Los Angeles, hell bent on getting there in three days.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of hell

Noun

In this high silk topper The Big Bambino was on top of the world with no premonition that a serious throat ailment would lead to his death in a few short years.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Chapman won’t play another game for the Giants this year after undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this week, but the 33-year-old has finally addressed an ailment that’s bothered him for effectively the whole season.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of ailment

Browse Nearby Words

disobliging

disorder

disordered

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorder. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of disorder

noun

verb

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