unsettle

verb

un·​set·​tle ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl 

unsettled; unsettling; unsettles

transitive verb

1

: to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder

2

: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose

intransitive verb

: to become unsettled

Synonyms

• disturb
• distract
• bother
• alarm
• worry
• concern
• agitate

Examples of unsettle in a Sentence

Such a sudden change will unsettle her.

the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers

Recent Examples on the Web

In doing so, Piccioli subtly weaves in his own creative quirks, while winking (from behind dark glasses) at his predecessor — a way of not entirely unsettling the clientele won over during the previous decade. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025

Fans were becoming unsettled by a lack of progress — and a refusal to adapt. —Paul Taylor, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

The result is slower, more volatile law-making — the kind of regulatory instability that unsettles investors. —Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Olena Ray, the store’s manager and – like many customers – a Ukrainian immigrant, said customers and staff were unsettled. —Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for unsettle

• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• metal
• mettle
• nettle
• petal
• setal
• settle
• diacetyl
• gunmetal
• nonmetal

Kids Definition

unsettle

verb

un·​set·​tle ˌən-ˈset-ᵊl 

ˈən-

1

: to move or loosen from a settled state

2

: to make uneasy

change unsettles him