disorder

disorder vb Disorder, derange, disarrange, disorganize, unsettle, disturb are comparable when they mean to undo the fixed or proper order of something.

Disorder is commonly used in reference to something that depends for its proper functioning or effectiveness upon being properly ordered (see ORDER vb 1)

or in good order or array

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tresses all disordered— Milton

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too rich a diet will disorder his digestive system

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Derange implies a throwing out of proper arrangement of the parts, or of an important part, of something in which all the parts or elements are ordered with reference to each other or are so carefully adjusted or so closely related to each other that they work together as a unit. The term usually carries a strong implication of resulting confusion or a destruction of normal or healthy conditions

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war deranges the life of a nation

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fear has deranged his mind

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within the power of man irreparably to derange the combinations of inorganic matter and organic life— Lord

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Disarrange often implies little more than the changing of a fixed, neat, or perfect order of arrangement and may carry no suggestion of confusion

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she . . . would not let his chamber be disarranged just at present— Martineau

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someone had disarranged the papers on his desk

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the wind disarranged her hair

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Disorganize implies usually the destruction of order and functioning in a body or whole all the parts of which have an organic connection with each other or have been so ordered with reference to each other that what affects one part affects every other part; the term therefore usually suggests a disordering that impedes the functioning or impairs the effectiveness of the affected system

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subversive methods intended to disorganize the internal communications of the enemy's country

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the Whigs . . . though defeated, disheartened, and disorganized, did not yield without an effort— Macaulay

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an expenditure which would disorganize his whole scheme of finance— Buchan

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Unsettle implies a disordering or disarrangement that causes instability, unrest, inability to concentrate, or turbulence

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the cold war has unsettled the minds of men— Travis

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constant rumors that keep one unsettled

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Disturb (see also DISCOMPOSE)usually implies a force or combination of forces that unsettles or disarranges; frequently it also suggests an interruption or interference that affects a settled or orderly course, plan, growth, or progress

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the attraction of planets disturbs the course of comets

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Regulation . . . produces a uniform whole, which is as much disturbed and deranged by changing what the regulating power designs to leave untouched, as that on which it has operated— John Marshall

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{

the warps and strains of civilized life . .. seem to disturb the wholesome balance of even the humblest elements of the possessive and aesthetic instincts— Ellis

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Antonyms: order

Contrasted words: arrange, marshal, organize, methodize, systematize (see ORDER vb): array, align, range, *line, line up: regulate, *adjust, fix

disorder n

1 *confusion, disarray, clutter, jumble, chaos, snarl, muddle

Analogous words: derangement, disarrangement, disorganization, disturbance, unsettlement (see corresponding verbs at DISORDER): *anarchy, chaos, lawlessness

Antonyms: order

Contrasted words: arrangement, organization, methodization, systematization (see corresponding verbs at ORDER): system, *method

2 *disease, condition, affection, ailment, malady, complaint, distemper, syndrome