Word: perturbed

Associations

"Perturbed" means feeling anxious or unsettled. It often describes a state of being disturbed, bothered, or thrown off balance by something unexpected.

• Example 1: He seemed perturbed by the sudden news. (He looked anxious or disturbed because the news surprised him).
• Example 2: The unexpected change in plans left her feeling perturbed. (She felt uneasy or troubled due to the change).
• Example 3: The loud noise perturbed the baby’s sleep. (The noise interrupted the baby's peaceful sleep and made her uncomfortable).

A synonym for "perturbed" is "disturbed," but "perturbed" is often used in a more formal context or when emotions are involved, while "disturbed" can also refer to physical interruptions.

Substitution

Instead of "perturbed," you might use:

• "anxious" — This suggests worry or nervousness but does not imply disturbance by an external factor.
• "unsettled" — This is similar but might imply a more general feeling of not being at ease.
• "troubled" — This can imply a deeper level of concern or distress.

Deconstruction

The word "perturbed" comes from the Latin root "perturbare," which means "to throw into confusion."

• "Per-" means "through" or "completely."
• "Turbare" means "to confuse" or "disturb."
  This breakdown shows that feeling perturbed involves a complete disturbance in one’s mental state.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt perturbed? What caused that feeling?
• How do you react when you are perturbed? Do you vocalize your feelings or keep them to yourself?
• Can "perturbed" be used in both personal and professional contexts? How might the meaning change?