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perturb
in a sentence

perturb as in:  she was perturbed

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  • •
    Hagrid didn't seem perturbed by Ron's slug problem, which Harry hastily explained as he lowered Ron into a chair.  (source)
    perturbed = disturbed or made uneasy
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    It wasn't the most savoury district, but she didn't seem perturbed by that.  (source)
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    He took up the crossword puzzle again, shifting and fidgeting and touching his forehead as if perturbed by the sound of the piano.  (source)
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Show 10 more with 8 word variations
  • •
    Charles Wallace accepted the explanation serenely. Even Calvin did not seem perturbed.  (source)
    perturbed = disturbed
  • •
    Unperturbed, the customer sprinkled some Reichsmark bills on the counter.  (source)
    Unperturbed = not disturbed or made uneasy
    standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unperturbed means not and reverses the meaning of perturbed. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
  • •
    We don't want them perturbing the material.†  (source)
    perturbing = disturbing or making uneasy
  • •
    ...senses her feelings, dimly, with perturbation.  (source)
    perturbation = uneasiness
    standard suffix: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.
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    As one, who tidings hears of woe to come, Changes his looks perturb'd, from whate'er part The peril grasp him, so beheld I change That spirit, who had turn'd to listen, struck With sadness, soon as he had caught the word.†  (source)
    perturb'd = disturbed or made uneasy
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    The lieutenant is a respectable fellow, but his is a simple temperament, not prone to spiritual dangers—the sort that never perturbs a teacher.†  (source)
    perturbs = disturbs or makes uneasy
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    Nor, as directed toward Billy Budd, did it partake of that streak of apprehensive jealousy that marred Saul's visage perturbedly brooding on the comely young David.†  (source)
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    He refolds it and lays it in his desk with a countenance as unperturbable as death.†  (source)
    unperturbable = not able to be disturbed or made uneasy
    standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unperturbable means not and reverses the meaning of perturbable. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
  • •
    "Hello?" the altar boy said, arriving with a perturbed look on his face.  (source)
    perturbed = unsettled or uneasy
  • •
    His expression is unforgettable: not anger or rage. There is no fury in it. Only pleasure, unperturbed. Then a part of me understands, even as I begin to argue against it, that my humiliation was the cause of that pleasure. It was not an accident or side effect. It was the objective.  (source)
    unperturbed = undisturbed
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rare meaning

•
The planet, Neptune, was discovered after its existence was predicted by perturbations in Uranus' orbit.
perturbations = secondary influences on a system that cause it to deviate slightly
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  • •
    We will study the evolution of perturbations over time to find out if the configuration is stable.
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    If the perturbations are small, the procedure should work.
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    Tiny perturbations can be endlessly amplified.  (source)
    perturbations = secondary influences
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    He had been transformed to a little blip on the horizon, a minor perturbation factor in her existence.†  (source)
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    Then you looked for perturbations that might indicate other planets.  (source)
    perturbations = deviations caused by secondary influences
  • •
    The storm, and the resulting minor earthquakes, did not perturb the meerkats in the least.†  (source)
    perturb = alter the regular state of an otherwise stable system
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    Under the influence of their mutually perturbing gravitational attraction, their movements are unpredictable—the three-body problem.  (source)
    perturbing = causing secondary influences
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    What no member of the family ever knew was that the strangers did not take long to realize that Remedios the Beauty gave off a breath of perturbation, a tormenting breeze that was still perceptible several hours after she had passed by.†  (source)
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    She had no gift for small perturbations, mean-spirited resentments, concealed envies, works of charity, faded endearments, ordinary friendly politeness, or day-to-day acts of kindness.†  (source)
    perturbations = secondary influences on a system that cause it to deviate slightly
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    The news didn't perturb him as much as excite his curiosity.†  (source)
    perturb = alter the regular state of an otherwise stable system
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    How cruel to have this fleeting, fragmented vision, seen through an ice-crusted window, then to wonder if it is real, or if it is the perturbation of a brain undone by alcohol.†  (source)
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    Thou wilt die soon and thou are not yet simple nor free from perturbations, nor without suspicion of being hurt by external things, nor kindly disposed towards all; nor dost thou yet place wisdom only in acting justly.†  (source)
    perturbations = secondary influences on a system that cause it to deviate slightly
  • •
    But I suppose this change did perturb me somewhat, for I remember mentioning it to Mr Graham, valet-butler to Sir James Chainbers — a good colleague who, incidentally, I seem now to have lost touch with — as we sat talking by the fire one night during one of his regular visits to Darlington Hall.†  (source)
    perturb = alter the regular state of an otherwise stable system
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