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perturb — to make someone anxious or unsettled; to disturb or interfere with

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to make someone anxious or unsettled; to disturb or interfere with

Pronunciation (IPA): /pərˈtɜːrb/

Example Sentences

  • His mother's constant nagging perturbed him more than a smoke detector going off at 3 AM.
  • The students were perturbed by the sudden change in exam format.
  • She seemed perturbed when her cat ignored her for the delivery guy.

perturb

VERB

[/pərˈtɜːrb/]

to make someone anxious or unsettled; to disturb or interfere with

The strange noise from the attic perturbs the whole family at dinner.
💡 Concept

The strange noise from the attic perturbs the whole family at dinner.

PER(completely) + TURB(confusion) — plunging the quiet room into a state of PER(complete) TURB(confusion) with a loud gong, the man heavily perturbed the meditating monks.
🧠 Mnemonic

PER(completely) + TURB(confusion) — plunging the quiet room into a state of PER(complete) TURB(confusion) with a loud gong, the man heavily perturbed the meditating monks.

While sleeping peacefully in the quiet suburb, the sudden alien spaceship managed to completely perturb all the residents.
🎵 Rhyme

While sleeping peacefully in the quiet suburb, the sudden alien spaceship managed to completely perturb all the residents.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/pərˈtɜːrb/
🇬🇧 UK/pəˈtɜːb/

🌳Etymology

Prefixper--
Rootturb

Origin

From Latin 'perturbare', composed of 'per-' (through, thoroughly) and 'turbare' (to disturb, confuse), which comes from 'turba' meaning crowd or disorder.

Breakdown

per- (through, thoroughly) + turb (disturb, confuse) + -ation (noun) = perturbation; present verb form: perturb

🎵Rhyme

disturb
herb
curb

🔗Collocations

perturb the peace
greatly perturbed
perturb the system
perturb someone's mind
perturb the balance

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“His mother's constant nagging perturbed him more than a smoke detector going off at 3 AM.”

“The students were perturbed by the sudden change in exam format.”

😄 Fun example

“She seemed perturbed when her cat ignored her for the delivery guy.”

“The unexpected phone call perturbed the quiet evening atmosphere.”

📚Related Words

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