unnerve

un·nerve

verb \-ˈnərv\

Definition of UNNERVE

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of courage, strength, or steadiness

2

: to cause to become nervous : upset

— un·nerv·ing·ly \-ˈnər-viŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of UNNERVE

1. Seeing the police in there unnerved me.
2. She was unnerved by his strange manner.

First Known Use of UNNERVE

1601

Related to UNNERVE

Synonyms: demoralize, emasculate, paralyze, undo, unman, unstring

Antonyms: nerve

Related Words: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, neuter, weaken; prostrate, sap, soften, tire, waste; frighten, intimidate, psych (out), scare, terrify, terrorize; daunt, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit; craze, derange, madden, unbalance, unhinge; discompose, disquiet, disturb, faze, perturb, unsettle, upset, weird out

Near Antonyms: fortify, strengthen; embolden, encourage, hearten

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of UNNERVE

unnerve, enervate, unman, emasculate mean to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action. unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act <unnerved by the near collision>. enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort <a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure>. unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit <a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle>. emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential <an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards>.

Rhymes with UNNERVE

bell curve, conserve, deserve, disserve, french curve, hors d'oeuvre, incurve, observe, preserve, recurve, reserve, self-serve, sine curve, skew curve, subserve