perturb

[per-turb]

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verb (used with object)

to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate.

to throw into great disorder; derange.

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

Origin of perturb

1325–75; Middle English perturben (< Old French perturber) < Latin perturbāre to throw into confusion, equivalent to per- per- + turbāre to disturb; see turbid

Related formsper·turb·a·ble, adjectiveper·turb·a·bil·i·ty, nounper·tur·ba·tious

[pur-ter-bey-shuhs] /ˌpɜr tərˈbeɪ ʃəs/, adjectiveper·turb·ed·ly

[per-tur-bid-lee] /pərˈtɜr bɪd li/, adverbper·turb·ed·ness, nounper·turb·er, per·tur·ba·tor

[pur-ter-bey-ter] /ˈpɜr tərˌbeɪ tər/, nounper·turb·ing·ly, adverbper·turb·ment, nounnon·per·turb·a·ble, adjectivenon·per·turb·ing, adjectiveun·per·turb·a·ble, adjectiveun·per·turbed, adjectiveun·per·turb·ing, adjective

Synonyms for perturb

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perturb ON THESAURUS.COM

1. trouble. 2. confuse, addle, muddle.

Antonyms for perturb

1. pacify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for perturbable

tricky, jumpy, testy, precarious, sensitive, uptight, volatile, delicate, ticklish, risky, dicey, hypersensitive, bad-tempered, cantankerous, captious, choleric, cranky, cross, grouchy, grumpy

British Dictionary definitions for perturbable

perturb

verb (tr; often passive)

to disturb the composure of; trouble

to throw into disorder

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

Derived Formsperturbable, adjectiveperturbably, adverbperturbing, adjectiveperturbingly, adverb

Word Origin for perturb

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

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

Word Origin and History for perturbable

perturb

late 14c., from Old French perturber "disturb, confuse" (14c.) and directly from Latin perturbare "to confuse, disorder, disturb," especially of states of the mind, from per- "through" (see per) + turbare "disturb, confuse," from turba "turmoil, crowd" (see turbid). Related: Perturbed; perturbing.