WordLens

perturb

1 of 1verb
/pɚˈtɝb/
Forms:perturbs,perturbing,perturbed,perturbed
1

to disturb or unsettle someone, causing them to feel worried or uneasy

transitive
  • The constant noise from the construction site perturbed the residents, disrupting their peace and quiet.
  • The strange behavior of her usually calm cat perturbed her, making her wonder if something was wrong.
  • The sudden change in his friend's attitude perturbed him, leaving him feeling uneasy about their relationship.
  • The ominous weather forecast perturbed the event organizers, who feared it might ruin their outdoor plans.
  • The unsettling news article perturbed the readers, raising concerns about the safety of their community.
Synonyms:
distractcarkdisorderdisquietunhingetrouble
2

to disturb or throw something into a state of confusion, anxiety, or disorder

transitive
  • His rude comments perturbed the calm atmosphere of the gathering.
  • The new software update perturbed the function of the entire system.
  • Her conflicting statements perturbed the investigators, causing delays.
  • The last-minute cancellation of the event perturbed the organizers.
  • The scientist's experiment perturbed the delicate balance of the system.
Synonyms:
derangethrow out of kilter
3

to alter the movement or path of a body, typically by applying a gravitational force or external influence

transitive
  • The gravitational pull of the moon perturbs the orbits of nearby asteroids.
  • A passing comet's gravitational field perturbed the asteroid's course.
  • The gravity of the nearby planet perturbed the satellite's orbit.
  • The gravitational forces of other stars perturbed the path of the planet.
  • The star's movement was perturbed by the presence of a nearby black hole.
4

to make a small change or modification to the motion of an object or particle

transitive
  • Small irregularities in the environment can perturb the path of a particle in motion.
  • A small force perturbed the object’s motion, causing it to veer slightly off course.
  • A slight temperature change perturbed the speed of the moving molecules.
  • The addition of mass perturbed the object's velocity, making it accelerate more slowly.