disrupting

verb

present participle of disrupt
1
as in breaking
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly an earthquake that had disrupted the elevated highway in several places

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shuffling
to undo the proper order or arrangement of the arrival of a baby in the household would totally disrupt their established routine

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 disrupting Almost constant air raids in Kyiv have now reached their third day, choking the economy in the Ukrainian capital and severely disrupting civilian life more than 4½ years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 In 2023, workers accused the company of disrupting union activities, including implying workers could be dismissed for participating in a union protest and locking emergency exits on the day workers planned to picket outside. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Both stocks have been hit in the last year over concerns of prediction markets disrupting the industry, and the companies have rushed to get their own prediction market exchanges online. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Furthermore, the light emitted from screens appears to contribute to sleep disturbances by disrupting the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. — Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 Engineered for Real-World Livability FreshFlow is designed to deliver airflow without disrupting daily life. — New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2026 Six months later, the war trudges on, indirectly ensnaring much of the world by severely disrupting global trade. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 While the gains are especially significant as Bangladesh’s ongoing gas shortage is intensifying load-shedding for manufacturers and disrupting production, the technology’s most immediate impact will be felt by workers. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 The charges are hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor, and disrupting a meeting or procession, a Class B misdemeanor. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrupting
  1. breaking
  2. shuffling
  3. fracturing
  4. disturbing
  5. destroying
  6. confusing
  7. reducing
  8. upsetting
Verb
  • Angel Reese broke the WNBA single-game rebounding record with 26 while also breaking the league’s season record for rebounds as the Atlanta Dream beat the Sparks 78-71 on Monday night.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Everything is breaking the Sox way so far, and their playoff chances are greatly enhanced by the likelihood of avoiding an AL East team until the AL Championship Series.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of breaking
Verb
  • Summary The Chicago Cubs are currently shuffling their infield due to Dansby Swanson's oblique injury, moving Nico Hoerner to shortstop and Pedro Ramírez to second base.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Keeping your eye on Bredeson is as hard as tracking a ball beneath shuffling cups.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • Upon his return to the team, Simmons started three games before fracturing his wrist in a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, researchers found sanctions have at times backfired by fracturing opposition and boosting support for the regime – even among moderate opponents of the government.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of fracturing
Verb
  • The relative rarity and disturbing nature of these cases are part of what attracts so much attention, said Michelle Oberman, a law professor at Santa Clara University who has studied and written about women who kill their children.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But after a series of disturbing events begins occurring around town, including the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline, Celeste, Renata, Jane and Bonnie must grapple with the weight of their past secrets, a synopsis reads.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • Pumping at high speeds creates a suction vortex (upconing) that violently draws heavy sludge into the production stream, fouling piping and destroying surface pumps.
    — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The tornado wreaked havoc in the village of 1,000 inhabitants, reducing homes to rubble and destroying numerous cars.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Then began the desperate, confusing search for their colleagues.
    — Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Founders frequently misjudge their business's worth, often confusing revenue with actual value.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • According to a news release, the program will track attendance and behavioral data with the primary goals being to improve school attendance and student grades while potentially reducing psychiatric hospitalizations.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That could lower capital and operating costs while reducing safety risks during production.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reducing
Verb
  • Chelsea Green dramatically won the WWE Women's Interim Championship in a thrilling ladder match, upsetting heavy favorite Charlotte Flair.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • More pragmatic figures in the establishment accuse these hard-liners of upsetting the country’s social peace with needless political repression, and by seeking to micromanage the lifestyles of ordinary people.
    — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of upsetting

Browse Nearby Words

disrupters
disrupting
disruption
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Cite this Entry

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

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