unnerve

verb

un·​nerve ˌən-ˈnərv 

unnerved; unnerving; unnerves

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of courage, strength, or steadiness

was unnerved by the enemy's overwhelming show of strength

2

: to cause to become nervous : upset

His strange behavior unnerved her.

unnervingly

ˌən-ˈnər-viŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of unnerve

• paralyze
• frighten
• terrify
• intimidate
• scare

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

Putin seeks not only to frighten Europeans but to unnerve Americans, as well. —Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025

Putin seeks not only to frighten Europeans but to unnerve Americans, as well. —Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025

The witchy gothic nature of their song captures the haunted, unnerving quality of Emily Brontë’s novel. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025

Michael Burry unnerved investors this week with seemingly fresh wagers against artificial intelligence favorites Nvidia and Palantir Technologies . —Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unnerve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• nerve
• serve
• swerve

Kids Definition

unnerve

verb

un·​nerve ˌən-ˈnərv 

ˈən-

unnerved; unnerving

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

the accident unnerved me