disconcert

verb

dis·​con·​cert ˌdis-kən-ˈsərt 

disconcerted; disconcerting; disconcerts

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

ˌdis-kən-ˈsər-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

disconcertment

ˌdis-kən-ˈsərt-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• embarrass
• confuse
• fluster
• rattle

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

The code, though, is currently often replete with disconcerting troubles. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

The Federal Reserve is meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine the appropriate monetary policy that can both address both inflation risks alongside the increasingly disconcerting state of the U.S. labor market. —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025

This detail, at once tragic and comic, painfully human and stupidly bureaucratic, captures something essential about Schattenfroh, an extremely dark novel about the horrors of modern European history laced with the delirious, disconcerting humor of a Hieronymus Bosch painting. —Book Marks september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

The uptick in closures is particularly disconcerting given that the Irish whiskey industry had been booming as recently as two years ago. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for disconcert

• controvert
• extrovert
• introvert
• reassert
• undershirt
• alert
• assert
• avert
• dessert
• divert
• evert
• exert

Kids Definition

disconcert

verb

dis·​con·​cert ˌdis-kən-ˈsərt 

1

: to disturb the arrangement of : upset

the unexpected event disconcerted their plans

2

: to disturb the self-control of

your frank stare disconcerted me

disconcertingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb