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

• 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

By then, Trump had been reelected, unnerving many in the liberal city over his promise to enact the largest mass deportation operation in American history. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025

Luckily, this particular bear in the viral TikTok video, while unnerving in its closeness, did not exhibit signs of aggression or predatory behavior, ultimately leaving the hiker alone after stopping by a stream. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025

The board’s failure to act courageously sent shockwaves through the organization, resulting in an unstable interim period that unnerved both shareholders and employees. —Keith D. Dorsey, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

But the chaotic nature of Trump’s first term upset his opponents and unnerved his softer supporters. —W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 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