unperturbed

USAGE SUMMARY

"unperturbed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something in a calm, collected manner despite external pressures or trying situations. Example sentence: Mary remained unperturbed as she faced the angry crowd.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There weren't too may other scowling faces to be seen in the hotel we stayed at, with most guests happy with their lot and unperturbed by the fact that their all-inclusive holiday meant they did not get the chance to sample other cuisines away from the hotel.

The Guardian - Travel

Then, over our heads, came the soft swoop of a Magellanic horned owl, a glamorous giant of a predator, which seemed unperturbed by our presence in his fiefdom.

The Guardian - Travel

"Unperturbed by their lack of stature, they're more than happy to give you a scolding if you do something they don't approve of.

The Guardian

It wasn't long before we stumbled upon a hungry turtle, chomping away, unperturbed by the captivated audience of divers: you can see why people flock here to learn to dive.

The Guardian - Travel

Kasich, who said repeatedly over the weekend that his final decision over whether to run by president would be guided by God, appeared unperturbed by the attacks from the right of his party.

The Guardian

He was there just a moment, and my mother was unperturbed – as she says, when you talk to people openly and honestly about ghosts, many have had similar experiences.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Iraqi regime was unperturbed by American and British attempts to co-ordinate Iraq's fractured opposition-in-exile but a row loomed with the UN's inspectors over documents that Unscom says are missing.See article: Iraq and its oppositionA veteran Iranian politician, Dariush Forouhar, and his wife were stabbed to death.

The Economist

A YEAR ago the markets were unperturbed by an unexpectedly hostile provisional judgment from the German constitutional court on the policy of "outright monetary transactions" (OMT) adopted by the European Central Bank (ECB) in 2012.

The Economist

Iran has since positioned two of its destroyers at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab, ostensibly to fight piracy.Analysts have puzzled over Iran's intentions, but the industry has remained unperturbed.

The Economist

Controllers reckon that whatever was causing the short circuit must have worked itself loose, or been vaporised while tests were carried out.It might seem strange that Deep Space 1's engineers are unperturbed by the apparent failure of their craft's most exciting technology.

The Economist

Textile makers, unperturbed by the fact that few accurate records of ancient tartan patterns existed, invented as many as they could.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unperturbed" to contrast a character or subject's internal calm with an externally chaotic or threatening environment. It is particularly effective in political or narrative writing to signal strength and confidence.

Common error

Avoid using "unperturbed" as a simple synonym for 'unnoticed'. While an object can be physically "unperturbed" in science (meaning its motion is unchanged), in general writing, the word implies a psychological resistance to being bothered. If you simply mean someone didn't see you, use 'unnoticed' or 'ignored' instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "unperturbed" functions primarily as an adjective derived from the past participle of the verb 'perturb' with the negative prefix 'un-'. According to Ludwig, it is used to modify nouns or as a predicative adjective to describe a state of calm or lack of disturbance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "unperturbed" is a robust and versatile term used to describe a state of being calm and collected despite external interference. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and highly useful word across multiple domains. It appears most frequently in News & Media to describe the reactions of public figures, but it holds significant weight in Science and Philosophy to describe systems or minds that remain in their original, undisturbed state. For writers, it offers a more sophisticated alternative to <a href="/s/unfazed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">unfazed or <a href="/s/calm" target="_blank" rel="alternative">calm, carrying an air of authority and resilience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imperturbable

a stronger, more formal adjective describing someone who is incapable of being upset or agitated

unfazed

suggests a lack of surprise or being completely unaffected by a specific event, often used in more casual journalism

equanimous

a highly formal academic term for maintaining mental calmness and composure

composed

emphasizes the active effort or character trait of maintaining self-control and dignity

collected

implies being mentally organized and ready to act despite pressure

unshaken

highlights resilience specifically after a shock or a traumatic experience

undisturbed

most frequently used for physical objects or environments that have not been moved or altered

cool-headed

focuses on the ability to remain rational and level-headed in a crisis

nonchalant

conveys an air of casual indifference, sometimes suggesting a lack of concern

serene

suggests a deeper, more peaceful and spiritual state of tranquility

FAQs

How do I use "unperturbed" in a sentence?

You can use it as an adjective to describe someone who remains calm, such as: "She remained <a href="/s/unperturbed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">unperturbed by the negative reviews."

What is the difference between "unperturbed" and "unfazed"?

While both mean not bothered, <a href="/s/unfazed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">unfazed is slightly more informal and often implies that the person wasn't even surprised by the event, whereas "unperturbed" carries a more formal tone of remaining steady.

Can "unperturbed" be used in scientific writing?

Yes, in physics and mathematics, it often refers to a system or particle that has not been affected by an external force, such as an "<a href="/s/unperturbed+state" target="_blank" rel="alternative">unperturbed state" or "<a href="/s/unperturbed+motion" target="_blank" rel="alternative">unperturbed motion".

Is "unperturbed" more formal than "calm"?

Yes, "unperturbed" is significantly more formal than <a href="/s/calm" target="_blank" rel="alternative">calm and is frequently found in literature, academic papers and high-end journalism like The Economist.