unsettle
verb
un·set·tle
ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl 
unsettled; unsettling; unsettles
1
: to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder
A mild aftershock unsettled several more structures.
2
: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
Such a sudden change will only unsettle her.
: to become unsettled
Synonyms of unsettle
Examples of unsettle in a Sentence
Such a sudden change will unsettle her.
the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers
Recent Examples on the Web
What unsettles me just as deeply is the anti-immigrant mood on the ground.
—
Valeng Cha, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
But like Pakula’s montage, Dorfman shifts the format of the novel to further unsettle the reader.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
While a complete withdrawal from the GNU may be unlikely, the resurgence of internal debate alone risks unsettling a government whose stability rests, in part, on the DA’s role as a moderating force.
—Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Homebuyers tend to be more sensitive than the law, which is still largely unsettled in regards to the topic.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
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Valeng Cha, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
But like Pakula’s montage, Dorfman shifts the format of the novel to further unsettle the reader.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
While a complete withdrawal from the GNU may be unlikely, the resurgence of internal debate alone risks unsettling a government whose stability rests, in part, on the DA’s role as a moderating force.
—Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Homebuyers tend to be more sensitive than the law, which is still largely unsettled in regards to the topic.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
Cite this Entry
“Unsettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettle. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsettle
verb
un·set·tle
ˌən-ˈset-ᵊl
ˈən-
1
: to move or loosen from a settled state
2
: to make uneasy
change unsettles him
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