1
as in to paralyze
to deprive of courage or confidence
the riding accident so unnerved me that for a while I was afraid to get back on a horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
a figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerve
Sudden acts of violence targeting random members of the public, including school children, have surged across the country in recent years as economic growth stutters, unnerving a population long accustomed low rates of violent crime and ubiquitous surveillance.
—
Alex Stambaugh, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
Mary said Nathan’s erratic behavior unnerved her and Seraphine.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
Real Madrid’s £150million attack could not unnerve this inexperienced, improvised and hard-working band, put together for a comparable £2.5m, over 180 minutes.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
President Donald Trump has made his fixation on Greenland abundantly clear—enough so to unnerve many of the people who live there.
—Brett Simpson, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Alex Stambaugh, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
Mary said Nathan’s erratic behavior unnerved her and Seraphine.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
Real Madrid’s £150million attack could not unnerve this inexperienced, improvised and hard-working band, put together for a comparable £2.5m, over 180 minutes.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
President Donald Trump has made his fixation on Greenland abundantly clear—enough so to unnerve many of the people who live there.
—Brett Simpson, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
Verb
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Moving Forward With Strategic Confidence Economic uncertainty should not paralyze your business's strategy.—
David Zybin,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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Horn was left partially paralyzed by the tiger attack and, after a brief comeback in 2010, the pair retired from show business.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2025
Verb
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This could discourage aggressive use, especially if there is concern over accountability or the risk of losing valuable hardware.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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The primary reason for the 10-minute time limit is to discourage loitering, Heinzelman said.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2025
Verb
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The goal of strengthening Washington’s presence should be to reassure partners that U.S. pressure is designed to create stronger alliances, not to pave the way for abandonment, as well as to ensure that resisting China is viable for countries that are frightened by Beijing.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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The American Declaration of Independence and Constitution frightened monarchies and despots around the world without a single bullet or gunboat.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Restaurateur Tasha Cyril is sometimes frustrated by the popularity of the turkey wings at her scene-centric Buckhead bar and lounge.—
Mike Jordan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 May 2025
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Soon after, news broke that midfield star Gio Reyna — whose lack of utilization was a common talking point during the team’s run — had frustrated his teammates with a lack of effort in training before the opening match against Wales.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The prospective repercussions terrify the corner of the AI universe concerned about safety, industry experts said, particularly as leading players pursue artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is technology that rivals or exceeds human intelligence.—
Hayden Field,Jonathan Vanian,Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
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The radiotherapy had caused swelling in my brain—apparently a normal response, but still terrifying.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 May 2025
Verb
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That means people who are counting votes or knocking on doors can’t be intimidated, threatened or coerced.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
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If mixing up cocktails at home seems intimidating, don't fear—the secret to your new favorite drink might already be in the back of your fridge.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Start to say no to distractions that do not serve your higher purpose, and start saying yes to the things that challenge you, stretch you and even scare you a little.—
Melissa Sierra,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
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What scares and excites you about where AI is headed for the next generation of artists?—
Lily Marks,
Time,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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