unsettle
verb
un·set·tle
ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl 
unsettled; unsettling; unsettles
1
: to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder
A mild aftershock unsettled several more structures.
2
: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
Such a sudden change will only unsettle her.
: to become unsettled
Synonyms of unsettle
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
The standouts unsettled, provoked and occasionally disoriented, often in the same breath.
—
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Local media rights are unsettled, labor issues are expected to cause a lockout in 2027, and the lack of a salary cap creates payroll disparities.
—Luisa Beltran, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
City arrived unsettled in shape and selection, carrying the weight of a season that had never given them room to find either.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
For Iran, the UAE is a prime location where strikes can simultaneously pressure Washington, disrupt global energy flows, unsettle international finance and corporates, and generate worldwide attention.
—Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
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Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Local media rights are unsettled, labor issues are expected to cause a lockout in 2027, and the lack of a salary cap creates payroll disparities.
—Luisa Beltran, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
City arrived unsettled in shape and selection, carrying the weight of a season that had never given them room to find either.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
For Iran, the UAE is a prime location where strikes can simultaneously pressure Washington, disrupt global energy flows, unsettle international finance and corporates, and generate worldwide attention.
—Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
Cite this Entry
“Unsettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettle. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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