perturb

[ per-turb ]

See synonyms for: perturb perturbed perturbing perturbable 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).

Origin of perturb

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English perturben (from Old French perturber ), from Latin perturbāre “to throw into confusion,” equivalent to per- per- + turbāre “to disturb”; see turbid

Other words for perturb

1	trouble, worry
2	confuse, disarrange, muddle

See synonyms for perturb on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for perturb

pacify

See antonyms for perturb on Thesaurus.com

Other words from perturb

per·turb·a·ble, adjective
per·turb·a·bil·i·ty [per-tur-buh-bil-i-tee], /pərˌtɜr bəˈbɪl ɪ ti/, noun
per·tur·ba·tious [pur-ter-bey-shuhs], /ˌpɜr tərˈbeɪ ʃəs/, adjective
per·tur·ba·tor [pur-ter-bey-ter], /ˈpɜr tərˌbeɪ tər/, per·turb·er, noun
per·turb·ing·ly, adverb
per·turb·ment, noun
non·per·turb·a·ble, adjective
non·per·turb·ing, adjective
un·per·turb·a·ble, adjective
un·per·turb·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for perturb

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

Origin of perturb

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

Derived forms of perturb

perturbable, adjective
perturbably, adverb
perturbing, adjective
perturbingly, adverb

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

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