DISORDER Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

disorder 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disorder

as in chaos

a state in which everything is out of order the general disorder of the room after the guests finally left the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disease

an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning afflicted all her life with a nervous disorder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disorder

2 of 2

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dər

as in to disrupt

to undo the proper order or arrangement of be careful not to disorder the carefully arranged contents of the dresser

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disorder

Noun

At times, his psychological explanations may seem almost too orderly for a woman who lived so exuberantly in disorder. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 Research shows providing medications for opioid use disorder behind bars reduces recidivism and overdose deaths. — Aneri Pattani — Kff Health News, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

For example, tai chi practitioners are encouraged to stay at 70% effort, a practice that reduces injuries, facilitates mindfulness, and helps maintain nourishing, not disordered, relationships to movement. — Paula Chesley, STAT, 3 June 2026 A lot of the research on body image and media psychology has found that exposure time on social media very much correlates with body image issues and disordered eating tendencies. — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 5 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for disorder

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorder

Noun

Roughly two dozen other people, including several children, were struck by gunfire and dozens more were injured in the chaos.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
What was new was someone finally organizing it into something a nurse could use in sixty seconds in the chaos of a delivery room.

— Stacy L. Hambleton, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of chaos

Noun

But rates of cardiac disease have fallen in recent years, as the medical community pivots to managing cholesterol levels, hypertension and diabetes—all risk factors for heart disease.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
The administration said 80% of insurers pledged changes to preauthorization requirements for 80% of diseases and injuries by January 2026.

— Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disease

Verb

Afternoon or evening exercise can improve strength, reduce stress, and lower injury risk, but intense sessions could disrupt sleep.

— Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 27 Aug. 2026
Changing weather patterns also disrupt plant biology, deplete water infrastructure, and increase operating costs.

— Jonathan Destler, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of disrupt

Noun

His worldview has brought nothing but havoc to Americans, whereas Parton provided a guidebook for a national redemption.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
After a stop in the NFL, former Mississippi tight end Dae’Quan Wright could be heading to LSU thanks to a court order that is creating havoc throughout college sports by allowing Wright and others an unexpected fifth year of eligibility.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of havoc

Noun

Fewer than 10 people typically die of the illness each year, but nearly everyone who contracts it dies, according to the CDC.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
If a parent has an illness so contagious that the hospital can’t adequately protect other patients from it, such as tuberculosis, the parent and child would probably be put in an isolation room with special airflow to contain germs.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of illness

Noun

National Treasure 3 has been long discussed but remained in development hell for almost two full decades.

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
For six years and five seasons, Netflix’s treasure-hunting drama Outer Banks has put its North Carolina teens through absolute hell just to keep viewers hooked.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of hell

Noun

Hospitals and medical practitioners could treat many ailments and save lives, but medications like insulin for diabetes and antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia didn’t exist.

— Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
On the other side of it, Zeek Biggers, who hasn’t played in either preseason game, has been dealing with a minor nagging ailment in recent weeks but is back now.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of ailment

Browse Nearby Words

disobliging

disorder

disordered

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Style

“Disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorder. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of disorder

noun

verb

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