Dictionary.com
definitions

perturb

[ per-turb ]
/ pərˈtɜrb /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perturb ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

RELATED CONTENT

10 Different Ways To Say You’re SpeechlessRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. pertinacious,
  2. pertinacity,
  3. pertinence,
  4. pertinent,
  5. pertly,
  6. perturbate,
  7. perturbation,
  8. perturbation theory,
  9. perturbative,
  10. perturbed

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
ANTONYMS FOR perturb
1. pacify.
SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR perturb ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for perturbable

perturb

/ (pəˈtɜːb) /

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

v.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper