disturb
Interrupt someone's peace
To disturb is to interrupt or interfere with something settled or at rest.
You might disturb someone's sleep, disturb papers on a desk, or disturb the peace.
The word carries a sense of unwelcome intrusion: Sorry to disturb you, but there's a call.
Disturb also means to trouble emotionally—disturbing news unsettles the mind.
Something disturbed has been thrown out of its natural state.
Cause unease or anxiety
- agitateDisturb or provoke
- disquietMental unrest or agitation
- unnerveDisturb someone's composure
- rattleShaking sound maker
shake · fluster · disconcert · dismay · alarm · startle · jolt · concern
To disturb order
- displaceRemove from proper position
- disorderAbsence of organization
- scatterDistribute in random directions
- shuffleRandomize by mixing
rearrange · move · shift · mess up · jumble · tangle · disorganize · upset
Cause mild irritation
- irritateCause mild anger
- botherTo annoy or disturb
- pesterAnnoy with persistence
- hassleIrritating difficulty
nag · vex · irk · aggravate · provoke · nettle · grate · rankle
Break in upon
- disruptInterrupt and disorder
- intrudeEnter uninvited
- interfereObstruct or meddle uninvited
- botherTo annoy or disturb
interject · cut in · break in · halt · pause · suspension · cessation · stoppage
unsettle
Cause unease or anxiety
rattle · shake · fluster · disconcert · dismay · alarm · startle · jolt · concern · worry
disarrange
To disturb order
- displaceRemove from proper position
- disorderAbsence of organization
- scatterDistribute in random directions
shuffle · rearrange · move · shift · mess up · jumble · tangle · disorganize · upset · overturn
annoy
Cause mild irritation
hassle · nag · vex · irk · aggravate · provoke · nettle · grate · rankle · exasperate
interrupt
Break in upon
bother · interject · cut in · break in · halt · pause · suspension · cessation · stoppage · discontinuance
intrude
Enter uninvited
violate · breach · infringe · unwelcome · intruder · break-in · impose · overstep · barge in · pry
noise
Unwanted auditory disturbance
commotion · ruckus · clatter · bang · crash · loud · blare · cacophony · tumult · uproar
- Cause a stirmake waves, rock the boat, stir the pot, raise eyebrows, ruffle feathers
- agitateagitate, stir, rouse, rile up, annoy
- mind gamesmind game, head game, head games, mind games, intimidation
- disruptdisrupt, upset, disorder, disorganize, disarrange
- intrusionsintrusion, intrude, intruder, intruding, barging in
- fear reactionsscream, scared, gasp, terrified, flinch
disturbcalm
Free from agitation
soothe · reassure · comfort · pacify · tranquilize
- do not disturbRequest for solitude
- disturbing the peaceCriminal public disruption
- disturb the peaceDisrupt public tranquility
- public disturbanceDisorderly conduct affecting others
- civil disturbanceViolent public disorder event
- sleep disturbanceInterrupted or poor rest
disturbance, disturbing, disturbed, undisturbed, disturbs, disturbances, disturbingly, disturber, disturbers