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disturber

disturber

2 6.5
A person who interrupts people by making noise or causing trouble
  • noun
  • /dɪˈstɜːrbər/
translation icon : perturbador
  • The children in the library were considered disturbers when they started shouting and playing.
  • disturbers of peace

Examples

  • He called the English, "the disturbers of our harmony."

  • It is the sacred spot to which the statesmen of the world make pilgrimage, the magic mirror which exposes the intrigue of aggression and militarism, the house of correction for disturbers of world peace.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The disturbers of the peace could have been swept out to sea; who knows.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace.

  • "The intellectual is the disturber of the peace, a rebel against creature comforts and technological advances.

    Academic text (1995)
  • They've came to tell me that you're a disturber of the peace, provoking scandals.

  • Thou proud disturber of thy country's peace, corrupter of thy king, cause of these broils.

  • "Our enemies are a traditionless and homeless race; from the time of Cromwell to the present moment, they have been disturbers of the peace of the world.

    Blog text (9)
  • He projected them as disturbers of the peace, unsettling originals, and he complained that his students had begun taking them for granted.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The rise of Islam, in Prideaux's formulation, was a cautionary tale against the disturbers of the church's peace.

    Academic text (2003)

Synonyms

troublemaker
vsdisturber
  • Offensive
69 4.1

A person who causes problems for other people on purpose

is broader, focusing on making disorder and noisy commotion rather than only problems
nuisance
vsdisturber
62 3.6

A person or thing that annoys others and causes trouble

is stronger, referring to loud disturbance and open commotion rather than minor annoyance
hooligan
vsdisturber
  • Offensive
37 6.3

A violent or noisy person who causes trouble in public, often at sports events

is broader, including nonviolent interruption and general noisy disturbance
agitator
vsdisturber
16 6.5

A person who stirs up strong public feelings for political change

tends to mean causing general noisy disorder rather than purposeful public agitation
rioter
vsdisturber
16 5.3

A person who joins a violent public protest and damages things

is not limited to violent crowd acts and covers quieter forms of disturbance
provocateur
vsdisturber
14 8.8

A person who on purpose causes trouble or makes others do wrong

aims at general noisy disturbance and commotion rather than provoking for a reaction
instigator
vsdisturber
12 6.8

A person who starts trouble or urges others to act

focuses more on causing noisy disturbance and immediate commotion rather than starting movements
brawler
vsdisturber
8 6.2

A person who fights roughly in places like bars

focuses more on interrupting peace in general, not only fighting
rowdy
vsdisturber
7 4.0

A person who makes a lot of noise and causes trouble in a group

is broader, covering any interrupter causing general commotion beyond group noise
rabble-rouser
vsdisturber
  • Literature
6 8.5

A person who makes a crowd angry or excited about politics

is about interrupting peace and creating commotion rather than leading crowds
disruptor
vsdisturber
2 6.5

A person who interrupts a meeting or event and causes disorder

focuses on disturbing peace and making commotion rather than formal process breaks
mischief-maker
vsdisturber
2 6.0

A person who causes small trouble by playing tricks or starting gossip

is about making real disorder and loud commotion rather than light playful trouble
disrupter
vsdisturber
1 6.0

A person who interrupts a meeting or class and disturbs others

is more general, stressing disturbance and noisy commotion rather than meeting focus
provoker
vsdisturber
1 7.5

A person who starts trouble on purpose to make others react

is more about making visible disorder and breaking peace than prompting actions
stirrer
vsdisturber
  • Offensive
1 7.3

A person who spreads gossip to start arguments

is more about visible interruption and noisy commotion rather than secret provocation
noisemaker
vsdisturber
1 5.9

A person or group that attracts public attention by causing controversy

centres on disturbing peace and making commotion rather than gaining attention only
botherer
vsdisturber
1 6.5

A person who annoys others by repeating small actions

implies louder, more public breaking of peace and causing commotion
troubler
vsdisturber
7.4

A person who causes problems by starting arguments or fights

stresses noisy disturbance and breaking peace rather than only causing difficulties
instigant
vsdisturber
9.9

A person who on purpose makes others start trouble or fight

is centered on interrupting peace directly rather than primarily urging others on
fomenter
vsdisturber
  • Formal
9.8

A person who causes political trouble by encouraging others to act against the government

is less focused on political aims and more on causing noisy disorder
inflamer
vsdisturber
8.9

A person who says things that make people angry or start fights

is more about direct noisy disturbance and breaking calm than fueling debate
fanner
vsdisturber
7.4

A person who causes anger or arguments between people

focuses on causing immediate disorder and commotion rather than simply encouraging feelings
drama monger
vsdisturber
  • Offensive
8.9

A person who makes small problems into big arguments

targets loud disturbance and public commotion rather than private drama stirring
clammer
vsdisturber
8.8

A person who makes loud demands in protest

is about interrupting calm generally rather than only loud demands or protests
pesterer
vsdisturber
6.1

A person who annoys others by asking too many questions or interrupting them

creates broader noisy disorder and public commotion rather than persistent minor annoyance
annoyer
vsdisturber
7.4

A person who bothers others by teasing and making fun

causes actual disorder and noisy interruption rather than mild irritation
person from Porlock
vsdisturber
  • Literature
9.9

Someone who interrupts you when you are working or thinking

is broader, making general disorder and commotion rather than only critical interruptions
tokoloshe
vsdisturber
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who causes trouble on purpose to upset others

is broader, focusing specifically on noisy interruption and commotion
tensioner
vsdisturber
7.6

A person who causes stress or arguments in a group

is about overt noisy disorder and commotion rather than mainly emotional strain
diversionist
vsdisturber
  • NSFW
9.9

A person who damages property or causes trouble on purpose to distract others

is about disturbing peace openly and creating commotion rather than diversion tactics

Antonyms

23 3.7

A person who helps end arguments and makes people agree

How Disruptive

rioter
16 5.3
agitator
16 6.5
disturber
2 6.5
troublemaker
  • Offensive
69 4.1
botherer
1 6.5

Surface Forms

disturber singular
disturbers plural

Morphology

disturber = disturb (transparent) = disturb + er

Formed from the verb 'disturb' with the agentive suffix '-er'; a learner who knows 'disturb' can infer 'disturber' as 'one who disturbs'.

Etymology

Disturber comes from the verb disturb, which is made of dis- and turb-, with turb- from an old Latin word meaning 'to shake' or 'confuse', as in turbulent. So a disturber is someone who 'shakes' a place or breaks the peace.