disconcert

play

verb dis·con·cert \ˌdis-kən-ˈsərt\

Definition of disconcert

transitive verb
1 : to throw into confusion disconcerting their plans
2 : to disturb the composure of were disconcerted by his tone of voice

disconcerting

adjective

disconcertingly

play \-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

disconcertment

play \-mənt\ noun

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Examples of disconcert in a Sentence

News of his criminal past has disconcerted even his admirers.
we were disconcerted by the unexpected changes to the program

Recent Examples of disconcert from the Web

A small rear window and high trunklid result in limited rear visibility and a disconcerting 152 feet of rear obscured roadway—

— eric stafford, Car and Driver, "2017 Jaguar XF," 23 June 2017
Getting into the shuttle is disconcerting at first.

— brent snavely, USA TODAY, "Driverless shuttle service to launch at University of Michigan," 21 June 2017
It's left me disillusioned, frustrated and disconcerted.

— NOLA.com, "Alums don't want math, science school name change. Why won't legislators listen?: Letter," 2 June 2017
Again, reasonable minds can debate that point either way: The epidemic transfer trend, particularly in college basketball, is disconcerting.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity.com, "Vahe Gregorian: For once, control eludes Bill Snyder," 2 June 2017
And, denying the obvious and claiming that global warming is a hoax is especially disconcerting for Floridians, where issues like the greenhouse effect on water levels and flooding are a major concern.

— patricia mazzei, miamiherald, "‘This is a huge mistake’: Florida politicians react to Trump’s exit from climate deal," 1 June 2017
The idea that those brands could be abandoned was disconcerting for the snowsports retail industry.

— jason blevins, The Denver Post, "Private equity firm buys K2, Volkl, Marker and Boulder’s Backcountry Access," 26 May 2017
The physical feats of balance and strength impress; even the performers momentarily appeared disconcerted after their final trick.

— matthew j. palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'Beau & Aero: Crash Landing' at Orlando Fringe Festival," 20 May 2017
Approaching @EverydayAfrica with misaligned expectations is disconcerting, much like looking through a telescope from the objective lens instead of the eyepiece.

— stephen mayes, Time, "Beyond the Decisive Moment: 'The Truth Isn’t Told in a Single Photograph'," 15 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disconcert.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of disconcert

obsolete French disconcerter, alteration of Middle French desconcerter, from des- dis- + concerter to concert

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First Known Use: 1687

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of disconcert

embarrass, discomfit, abash, disconcert, rattle mean to distress by confusing or confounding. embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action. The question embarrassed her so much she couldn't answer discomfit implies a hampering or frustrating accompanied by confusion. Hecklers discomfited the speaker abash presupposes some initial self-confidence that receives a sudden check, producing shyness, shame, or a feeling of inferiority. abashed by her swift and cutting retort disconcert implies an upsetting of equanimity or assurance producing uncertainty or hesitancy. disconcerted by finding so many in attendance rattle implies an agitation that impairs thought and judgment. rattled by all the television cameras