PERTURB Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

perturb

verb

pər-ˈtərb

Definition of perturb

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

Relevance

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 The satellites orbit thousands of kilometers above the Earth, well above altitudes where wisps of atmosphere can perturb their orbits. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 8 July 2026 And Hinch was jeered again after Jones struck out, bookending the booing and showing Tigers fans are perturbed over the team’s downfall. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026 Lobo appeared perturbed that the shop’s owner brought the claim to the Clark County District Attorney instead of filing a civil suit. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026 Trump’s executive order perturbed many in the architecture profession when it was issued last year. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for perturb

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturb

Verb

Road construction can disturb natural hydrology, said Kate Groetzinger, the communications director for the Center for Western Priorities.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2026
A couple of years ago, a neighbor’s trees were disturbing the view from their $3-million summer house on the coast of Maine.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturb

Verb

Investigators say a tire was placed in the road in a plot to distract and kill Jared Bridegan, 33, in Jacksonville Beach in 2022.

— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Kiser’s husband, Brady Kiser, said he had been briefly distracted while watching Trigg while his wife was away.

— Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

Contreras rarely takes days off but asked for a day off Sunday with his leg bothering him.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 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 bother

Verb

Garcia said that before the attack, residents were already alarmed by a May news release from the city manager of neighboring Rio Vista, who warned that the project and potential annexation could open the door to a giant data center being built.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Terrified Jewish voters—alarmed by progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s anti-Zionist rhetoric—are fleeing to Republican Mike Rogers for self-preservation.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarm

Verb

In Texas, lawmakers have been exploring a ban on foreign nationals using Texas surrogates – a move surrogacy experts worry could be the first step toward a statewide ban on the practice.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
The Port of Los Angeles forklift driver was wearing a life vest and was floating away, out to sea -- cold, worried about sharks and drowning.

— Michele Gile, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

The Eagles’ cornerback depth chart is unsettled after the top three.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The attack comes just days before fall classes begin at the historically Black university, unsettling students who had recently moved into residence halls and completed freshman orientation events.

— Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsettle

Verb

Roy can’t escape one difficult question, however, concerning his plans for what’s next after his contract’s up at the end of the season.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
And while early-onset Alzheimer’s is rare, that doesn’t mean women should ignore changes that genuinely concern them.

— Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of concern

Verb

Paramount and other groups, including cinema chain owners and some Hollywood unions, have agitated for a settlement to curtail months of uncertainty over whether the deal will go through.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Don’t Overload the Washer Towels need enough room to be agitated and thoroughly washed in the machine, so avoid filling it to the brim.

— Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of agitate

Browse Nearby Words

pertness

perturb

perturbable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of perturb

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on perturb

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

prowess

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes