definitions

disturbing

[ dih-stur-bing ]
/ dɪˈstɜr bɪŋ /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR disturbing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

upsetting or disquieting; dismaying: a disturbing increase in the crime rate.

RELATED CONTENT

Pyramid HeadRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Gulag And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.comWhether it's CNN host Jake Tapper tweeting or Canadian officials making statements to the press, the news tends to make an impact on what people search in the dictionary. Here's a peek at the words that had folks guessing this week!
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

troublesome, embarrassing, annoying, worrisome, distressing, startling, unsettling, alarming, threatening, discouraging, unpleasant, painful, perplexing, upsetting, depressing, ominous, frightening, irritating, sinister, creepy

Nearby words

distrust, distrustful, disturb, disturbance, disturbed, disturbing, disty., distylar, distyle, disubstituted, disulfate

Origin of disturbing

First recorded in 1585–95; disturb + -ing2

Related forms

dis·turb·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·turb·ing, adjectiveun·dis·turb·ing, adjectiveun·dis·turb·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for disturbing (2 of 2)

disturb

[ dih-sturb ]
/ dɪˈstɜrb /

verb (used with object)

to interrupt the quiet, rest, peace, or order of; unsettle.
to interfere with; interrupt; hinder: Please do not disturb me when I'm working.
to interfere with the arrangement, order, or harmony of; disarrange: to disturb the papers on her desk.
to perplex; trouble: to be disturbed by strange behavior.

verb (used without object)

to cause disturbance to someone's sleep, rest, etc.: Do not disturb.

Origin of disturb

1175–1225; Middle English disto(u)rben, disturben < Anglo-French disto(u)rber, desturber < Latin disturbāre to demolish, upset, equivalent to dis- dis-1 + turbāre to confuse

Related forms

dis·turb·er, nounpre·dis·turb, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for disturbing

British Dictionary definitions for disturbing (1 of 2)

disturbing

/ (dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ) /

adjective

tending to upset or agitate; troubling; worrying

Derived Forms

disturbingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for disturbing (2 of 2)

disturb

/ (dɪˈstɜːb) /

verb (tr)

to intrude on; interrupt
to destroy or interrupt the quietness or peace of
to disarrange; muddle
(often passive) to upset or agitate; troubleI am disturbed at your bad news
to inconvenience; put outdon't disturb yourself on my account

Derived Forms

disturber, noun

Word Origin for disturb

C13: from Latin disturbāre, from dis- 1 + turbāre to confuse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012