unnerve

verb

un·​nerve ˌən-ˈnərv 

unnerved; unnerving; unnerves

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of courage, strength, or steadiness

2

: to cause to become nervous : upset

unnervingly

ˌən-ˈnər-viŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• demoralize
• emasculate
• paralyze
• undo
• unman
• unstring

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of unnerve in a Sentence

Seeing the police in there unnerved me.

She was unnerved by his strange manner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Understandably, the recent reappearance of Spanish nationalism has unnerved many Catalans by recalling events that few thought would ever happen again. —Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2018

The seasoned and effortlessly cool couple both fascinate and unnerve our main Smiths over the course of dinner, before the experienced duo tricks them into completing a wildly dangerous mission. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Aug. 2024

Yes, but: However unnerving the news may have been lately, politics hasn't historically driven economic outcomes in a linear, predictable way. —Neil Irwin, Axios, 24 July 2024

Here’s why his job is far from safe Bid to extradite Harvey Weinstein to California fought by NYC prosecutors Kratom products have gone unregulated in California, unnerving both fans and critics Technology crushing human creativity? —Hartford Courant, 9 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

unnerve

verb

un·​nerve ˌən-ˈnərv 

ˈən-

unnerved; unnerving

: to deprive of nerve, courage, or self-control

the accident unnerved me