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

But given expectations on Wall Street, anything less could unnerve the financial markets and play havoc with the real estate sector. —Paul Weinstein Jr., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

These efforts naturally unnerve Beijing, whose officials now routinely invoke the boogeyman of American hegemony lurking around every geopolitical corner. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024

But the dissonance among the Russian leader’s base must unnerve the Kremlin. —Timothy Frye, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2024

Rumors of an impending demolition have unnerved the local neighborhood association, which is pressing for a redevelopment plan that would save the century-old building. —Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2024

But having children come to her home in the afternoon became impossible: The sound of gunfire unnerved her students and their parents. —Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 18 Dec. 2023

Humor is subjective, of course, but the resulting jokes probably won’t unnerve any stand-up comedians worried AI is coming for their job. —Leslie Katz, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024

The third possibility unnerves a lot of legal experts. —Nicholas Riccardi, The Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2024

Some longstanding owners have been unnerved by the influx of new money. —Ira Boudway, Fortune, 9 Feb. 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