1. interrupt (an event, activity, or process) by causing a disturbance or problem: "a rail strike that could disrupt both passenger and freight service"Similarthrow into confusionthrow into disorderthrow into disarraycause confusion/turmoil inplay havoc withderangeturn upside-downmake a mess ofdisturbdisorderdisorganizedisarrangeinterfere withupsetunsettleconvulseinterruptsuspenddiscontinueobstructimpedehamperhold updelayretardslow (down)informal:throw a spanner in the works ofthrow a monkey wrench in the works of
▪ drastically alter or destroy the structure of: "if an explosion of volcanic steam had formed the crater, the blast from below would have disrupted the underlying rock"Similardistortdamagebucklewarpbreak open/apartshattersplitsevercleavesplit asunderliterary:rendarchaic:sunderriveOppositeorganizearrange
▪ (of a company or form of technology) cause radical change in (an industry or market) by means of innovation:"our 3D printing technology is disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry"
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin disrupt- ‘broken apart’, from the verb disrumpere.
