disturbance
Americannoun
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the act of disturbing.
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the state of being disturbed.
- Synonyms:
- confusion, perturbation
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an instance of this; commotion.
- Antonyms:
- order
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something that disturbs.
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an outbreak of disorder; a breach of public peace.
Political disturbances shook the city.
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Meteorology. any cyclonic storm or low-pressure area, usually a small one.
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Geology. a crustal movement of moderate intensity, somewhat restricted in area.
noun
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the act of disturbing or the state of being disturbed
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an interruption or intrusion
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an unruly outburst or tumult
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law an interference with another's rights
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geology
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a minor movement of the earth causing a small earthquake
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a minor mountain-building event
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meteorol a small depression
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psychiatry a mental or emotional disorder
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of disturbance
1250–1300; Middle English disto ( u ) rbance < Anglo-French, Old French. See disturb, -ance
Explanation
A disturbance is a noisy commotion that causes a hubbub or interruption. It can also be a worried mental state. In hotels, people put up "Do not disturb" signs when they want to be left alone. That's a good clue to what a disturbance is: something, usually noisy or rowdy, that bothers people. An audience member yelling during a piano concert would be a disturbance. Disturbances can also be interruptions, like a disturbance in cable service when the cable goes out. Disturbances can also be mental: if you're worried or anxious, that's a type of internal disturbance.
Vocabulary lists containing disturbance
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures is linked to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, cardiovascular issues, sleep disturbance and mental health problems, it added.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
The incident occurred June 14 when officers from the Santa Ana Police Department responded around 10:30 p.m. to a family disturbance in the 3400 block of South Main Street.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
Mangione's lawyers will argue that he was suffering from an "extreme emotional disturbance" -- a partial defense that can reduce a sentence, unlike an insanity plea, which seeks to avoid criminal responsibility altogether.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
The judge said defense lawyers intend to argue that Mangione killed the insurance executive due to an extreme emotional disturbance at the time.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
Time was passing and the disturbance was dying down.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
