1
as in breaks
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
an earthquake that had disrupted the elevated highway in several places
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2
as in disturbs
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the arrival of a baby in the household would totally disrupt their established routine
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Recent Examples of disrupts
Being pushed out of a stable home disrupts childhood learning and mental health.
—
Jane Hursh, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2025
We've all been told not to look at a screen before bedtime because the light disrupts sleep, right?
—Sanaz Meshkinpour, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
Travel, especially with time zone changes, disrupts your sleep cycle and energy levels.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
The film, which King both directed and stars in as the troubled writer Vincent Tremblay, follows a protagonist who retreats to an isolated location to complete his first novel, only to encounter a mysterious powerful force that disrupts his solitude.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2025
More than that, frequent turnover disrupts team dynamics and slows overall development progress.
—Alex Circei, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
While skepticism remains, the group’s control over key Syrian territory disrupts Iran’s ability to maintain a direct supply corridor to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
Deforestation disrupts precipitation patterns, leading to droughts that impact food production, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central America.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Seeley suggests that work stress and worry over how to find the right work-life balance can ultimately have a negative impact on sleep, adding that a cycle often happens when, over time, prolonged sleep deprivation disrupts circadian rhythm, negatively affecting your physical and mental health.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Jane Hursh, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2025
We've all been told not to look at a screen before bedtime because the light disrupts sleep, right?
—Sanaz Meshkinpour, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
Travel, especially with time zone changes, disrupts your sleep cycle and energy levels.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
The film, which King both directed and stars in as the troubled writer Vincent Tremblay, follows a protagonist who retreats to an isolated location to complete his first novel, only to encounter a mysterious powerful force that disrupts his solitude.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2025
More than that, frequent turnover disrupts team dynamics and slows overall development progress.
—Alex Circei, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
While skepticism remains, the group’s control over key Syrian territory disrupts Iran’s ability to maintain a direct supply corridor to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
Deforestation disrupts precipitation patterns, leading to droughts that impact food production, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central America.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Seeley suggests that work stress and worry over how to find the right work-life balance can ultimately have a negative impact on sleep, adding that a cycle often happens when, over time, prolonged sleep deprivation disrupts circadian rhythm, negatively affecting your physical and mental health.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Disrupts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrupts. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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