perturbs
Throws off balance
Perturbs is the third-person singular of perturb, meaning to disturb or unsettle.
Something that perturbs you causes anxiety or disquiet: The news perturbs her.
In scientific contexts, to perturb a system is to alter its normal state or trajectory: Gravity from nearby planets perturbs the comet's orbit.
Causes disquiet or unease
- unnervesCauses loss of confidence
- disconcertsDisturbs someone's composure
- disquietsCauses mental unease
- rattlesDisturbs or clatters
flusters · agitates · troubles · dismays · discomposes · ruffles · alarms · distresses
Interferes with normal operation
- interferesMeddles in others' affairs
- interruptsBreaks another's speech
- derailsThrows off course
- upsetsDisturbs or overturns
hampers · hinders · impedes · obstructs · destabilizes · throws off · undermines · sabotages
Departs from standard
- displacesRemoves from usual place
- shiftsMoves or work periods
- altersMakes something different
- modifiesChanges partially
varies · fluctuates · oscillates · deflects · distorts · skews · offsets · destabilizes
unsettles
Causes disquiet or unease
- unnervesCauses loss of confidence
- disconcertsDisturbs someone's composure
- disquietsCauses mental unease
rattles · flusters · agitates · troubles · dismays · discomposes · ruffles · alarms · distresses · worries
disrupts
Interferes with normal operation
- interferesMeddles in others' affairs
- interruptsBreaks another's speech
- derailsThrows off course
upsets · hampers · hinders · impedes · obstructs · destabilizes · throws off · undermines · sabotages · disorganizes
deviates
Departs from standard
modifies · varies · fluctuates · oscillates · deflects · distorts · skews · offsets · destabilizes · influences