perturb

[per-turb]

verb (used with object)

1. to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate.

   I can see how such a massive change in your routine would perturb you.

   Synonyms: worry, trouble
   Antonyms: pacify

2. to throw into great disorder.

   Huge construction projects can take years to finish, and meanwhile, can greatly perturb the neighborhood.

   Synonyms: muddle, disarrange, confuse

3. Astronomy.,  to cause perturbation in the orbit of (a celestial body).

perturb

/ pəˈtɜːb /

verb

1. to disturb the composure of; trouble

2. to throw into disorder

3. physics astronomy to cause (a planet, electron, etc) to undergo a perturbation

Other Word Forms

• perturbable adjective
• perturbability noun
• perturbatious adjective
• perturbator noun
• perturber noun
• perturbingly adverb
• perturbment noun
• nonperturbable adjective
• nonperturbing adjective
• unperturbable adjective
• unperturbing adjective
• perturbing adjective
• perturbably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of perturb¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English perturben (from Old French perturber ), from Latin perturbāre “to throw into confusion,” from per- per- + turbāre “to agitate, confuse” ( turbid )

Word History and Origins

Origin of perturb¹

C14: from Old French pertourber, from Latin perturbāre to confuse, from per- (intensive) + turbāre to agitate, from turba confusion

Example Sentences

His adversaries think he’ll crumple like yesterday’s broadsheet when they turn him away, and are perturbed to realize he’s more like the human equivalent of tissue hanging onto the heel of a shoe.

Read more on Salon

Dubois, who has 22 wins in 24 fights as a professional, looked perturbed that his rival had stolen the limelight and walked off shaking his head.

Read more on BBC

“I’m bummed. I’m disappointed. I don’t think Casey Stengel could change the outcome of that ballclub,’’ a perturbed Roberts told reporters Sunday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Facing the blank page perturbed Boneta at the beginning of his first foray into long-form writing, so he asked his writer friends for advice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And though it’s also perturbing, it’s nice to watch something where even the darkness isn’t synthetic.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• agitate 
• alarm 
• annoy 
• bewilder 
• confound 
• confuse 
• disconcert 
• dismay 
• disturb 
• fluster 
• irritate 
• muddle 
• perplex 
• vex