perturb

[ per-turb ]
See synonyms for: perturbperturbedperturbingperturbable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate: I can see how such a massive change in your routine would perturb you.

  2. to throw into great disorder: Huge construction projects can take years to finish, and meanwhile, can greatly perturb the neighborhood.

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

Origin of perturb

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English perturben (from Old French perturber ), from Latin perturbāre “to throw into confusion,” from per- per- + turbāre “to agitate, confuse” (see turbid)

Other words for perturb

Opposites for perturb

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

Words Nearby perturb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use perturb in a sentence

  • I was nettled now at all these things which were coming to puzzle and perturb an honest fellow out for a morning ride.

    The Way of a Man | Emerson Hough
  • A more pronounced cause than vague surmise was destined to perturb him, and this in an unexpected manner.

    A Laodicean | Thomas Hardy
  • What was to happen would happen; to perturb and perplex oneself was useless and might be dangerous.

    Ancient Rome | Mary Agnes Hamilton
  • Captain Thornes sarcasm seemed to perturb the youngster, but his good breeding got the better of his annoyance.

    Secret Service | Cyrus Townsend Brady
  • The existence of such facts does not perturb in the least those theorists who “rule the roost” in the scientific world.

    Jungle Folk | Douglas Dewar

British Dictionary definitions for perturb

perturb

/ (pəˈtɜːb) /


verb(tr; often passive)
  1. to disturb the composure of; trouble

  2. to throw into disorder

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

Origin of perturb

1
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