Perturb

/pərˈtɜrb/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; unsettle.

The sudden news of the accident seemed to perturb everyone at the gathering.

to cause (a system, process, etc.) to deviate from its normal state.

The scientist was concerned that the experiment might perturb the natural balance of the ecosystem.

to throw into confusion or disorder.

The unexpected changes in the schedule began to perturb the students.

Late Middle English, from Latin 'perturbare', from 'per-' (through) + 'turbare' (to disturb)

perturb the peace

To disturb a tranquil situation.

perturb someone's mind

To cause someone to feel anxious or troubled.

perturb the status quo

To disrupt the existing state of affairs.

disturb

To interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning.

unsettle

To cause to feel anxious or uneasy.

To mess with someone's head.

That movie really perturbed me, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

To throw off someone's groove.

Don't perturb my vibe, I'm trying to chill.