What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
consternation
Example
The news of the accident caused great consternation among the family members. [consternation: noun]
Example
She looked at him with consternation when he told her the bad news. [consternation: noun]
perturbation
Example
The perturbation in the stock market caused many investors to panic. [perturbation: noun]
Example
He felt a sense of perturbation when he realized he had lost his phone. [perturbation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Consternation is more common in everyday language than perturbation, which is more commonly used in technical or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between consternation and perturbation?
While both words can be used in formal contexts, perturbation is more commonly used in technical or scientific writing, while consternation can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
