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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Nothing But the Truth
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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.
The two pieces represent a stark contrast in experiences during the same conflict, once again touching upon the theme of hope amid disturbance.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Around 2:30 a.m., deputies responded to a call that a man was causing a disturbance at a home in Rancho Mission Viejo where his ex-girlfriend was.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
Miles Hoffman, a music commentator for NPR, has described syncopation as “a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Researchers found that disturbance created by commercial dredging is "widespread" across the lough and "could be affecting the ecosystem".
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
It was safer to be small, to be less of a disturbance for the Recruiters to track.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
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.
