PERTURBATION Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

perturbation

noun

ˌpər-tər-ˈbā-shən

Definition of perturbation

as in fear

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble in her perturbation she kept calling her son, a freshman, to see if everything was all right at college

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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 perturbation In the conscious state, says Miller, such perturbations only briefly affect how the brain behaves. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 23 Mar. 2026 Rigid wings experienced abrupt destabilization, while passive soft wings without sensing and control struggled to recover from larger flow perturbations. — Etiido Uko march 09, New Atlas, 9 Mar. 2026 And yet, the system is so sensitive that a small perturbation, given enough time, can steer its trajectory in a dramatically different direction. — Antonios Mamalakis, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026 If no perturbation can interfere with the singularity, then this separation function should always stay small. — Quanta Magazine, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perturbation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturbation

Noun

The frenzy followed Beijing’s decision in the mid-1980s to ban imports of almost all blood products – except human albumin – amid growing fears over the global HIV/AIDS crisis.

— CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Now, as my anxiety climbed, the smell was becoming inseparable from the fear.

— Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

The Lincoln has been at sea for an extended deployment during the Iran war, which sparked concerns among lawmakers and military families after reports of the crew’s worsening mental health and conditions aboard.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
In Utah, training starts with the basics of how AI works to teach an understanding of AI bias, hallucinations, ethical concerns and data privacy needs, Winters said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

In recent weeks, family members of Lincoln service members voiced worries about deteriorating mental health conditions aboard the ship, as well as sanitary conditions and food shortages.

— Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
That reflects how the world's second-largest economy remains insulated from global capital markets — and faces a deflationary environment, in contrast to inflation worries elsewhere.

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

But there’s more than gags here; the episode also delves into the gang’s unease with their changing lives, as well as the reservations everyone but Ted seems to have about his engagement to Stella (Sarah Chalke).

— Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
But Susser said the unease might also reflect that society hasn’t quite established clear norms around AI use.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of unease

Browse Nearby Words

perturbable

perturbation

perturbed

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“Perturbation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturbation. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of perturbation

noun

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