|dis+ transitive verb
Etymology: dis- (I) + compose
1. : to destroy the composure or serenity of : deprive of equanimity or stability : agitate , disconcert
do not be discomposed by the opinions of inept persons — Norman Douglas
he was still discomposed by the girl's bitter and sudden retort — James Joyce
2. : to disturb the order of : disarrange , disarray
the wind ruffled her hair, discomposed her dress
3. obsolete : to discharge from service : displace ; also : to derange the health of
Synonyms:
disquiet , disturb , perturb , agitate , upset , fluster , flurry : discompose indicates a causing loss of self-control, self-confidence, or poise
her look so discomposed him that he stopped, wandered, and began anew — Charles Dickens
the even temperament of his mind was never discomposed, and at each moment he was able always to decide, and to do, what the moment required — J.A.Froude
disquiet denotes a making uneasy, a causing loss of security and peace of mind
Roylance drove a motorcar well but audaciously, so that he disquieted the nerves of those who accompanied him — John Buchan
he was indubitably … restless and disquieted, his disquietude sometimes amounting to agony — Matthew Arnold
disturb now applies to the effect of care, strain, conflict, worry, or disappointment in interfering with or confusing accustomed mental and nervous processes
nothing is more disturbing than the upsetting of a preconceived idea — Joseph Conrad
I slept, indeed, but I was disturbed by the wildest dreams — Mary W. Shelley
a very badly disturbed child, one whom it would take a long, tough struggle to straighten out — J.N.Bell
perturb applies to the worrisome or disturbing results of uncertainty, disappointment, or danger
in this perturbed state of mind, with thoughts that could rest on nothing, she walked on — Jane Austen
and a presence of mind which no emergency can perturb — C.W.Eliot
agitate suggests show of obvious signs of nervous excitation and loss of self-control and calm
she was too agitated to sit down. She lit a cigarette but her lips trembled and she could not smoke it — Audrey Barker
Clara was so agitated that she was incoherent — Margaret Deland
an infernal spirit which agitates them and makes them tremble — J.G.Frazer
upset applies to any nervous unsettling, slight or serious
what upset me in the … trial was not the conviction, but the methods of the defense — H.J.Laski
Prospero, upset by a plot to murder him, philosophizing on the insubstantial quality of life — C.S.Kilby
fluster suggests confused or bewildered agitation in which one cannot act decisively or entirely rationally
the Sognings were a people of even temperament, not easily flustered; they bore the affliction with remarkable calmness and fortitude — O.E.Rölvaag
flurry suggests natural agitation, excitement, or confusion induced by haste, rush, and concern
thoughts with their attendant visions, which occupied and flurried her too much to leave her any power of observation — Jane Austen
he recognized her and sat down immediately, flurried and confused by his display of excitement — Liam O'Flaherty