as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the unnerving news of yet another murder
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in paralyzing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
a figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerving
Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The Reddit user, who took to the platform under u/schloinkdoink on September 23, described the unnerving discovery in a now-viral post that has been upvoted more than 1,200 times.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, Silent Hill f takes its protagonist to haunting grounds squarely her own, using Japanese folklore, myths, and other legends to paint the unnerving small town.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Though the integration of AI into the job search process might feel unnerving, Javier emphasizes again that robots aren’t looking to replace you.
—Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
But for another type of person—one who feels personally, professionally, or even ideologically invested in the culture and traditions of tattooing—this trend will be unnerving.
—John Semley, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Talking to CaBot was both empowering and unnerving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Scott Derrickson has made millions on the unnerving emptiness between fragments of film grain.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2025
The unnerving way that director De Jarnatt follows how one phone call can escalate into total citywide madness is supremely gripping.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Incompetence has a way of unnerving its witnesses.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
These models often fabricate facts, citations or statistics with unnerving confidence.
—Sagar Gupta, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the weeks before she was murdered, Goncalves recounted a series of unnerving events to Mortensen and a second surviving housemate, according to a police report released last month.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
Dealt with unnerving subtlety, the final blow is one of Scorsese’s most devastating character executions.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The 1960 movie — powered by Bernard Herrmann's chilling score, Anthony Perkins' unnerving portrayal of hotel manager Norman Bates (for the movie, much younger than the character in Bloch's novel) and Hitchcock's uncanny showmanship — revolutionized the horror genre.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The Reddit user, who took to the platform under u/schloinkdoink on September 23, described the unnerving discovery in a now-viral post that has been upvoted more than 1,200 times.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, Silent Hill f takes its protagonist to haunting grounds squarely her own, using Japanese folklore, myths, and other legends to paint the unnerving small town.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Though the integration of AI into the job search process might feel unnerving, Javier emphasizes again that robots aren’t looking to replace you.
—Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
But for another type of person—one who feels personally, professionally, or even ideologically invested in the culture and traditions of tattooing—this trend will be unnerving.
—John Semley, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Talking to CaBot was both empowering and unnerving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Scott Derrickson has made millions on the unnerving emptiness between fragments of film grain.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2025
The unnerving way that director De Jarnatt follows how one phone call can escalate into total citywide madness is supremely gripping.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Nonetheless, Lloyd's production is handsomely realized, with striking silhouetttes courtesy of Jon Clark and unnerving sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, who add a low whirr of dread to the existential fable.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Incompetence has a way of unnerving its witnesses.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
These models often fabricate facts, citations or statistics with unnerving confidence.
—Sagar Gupta, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the weeks before she was murdered, Goncalves recounted a series of unnerving events to Mortensen and a second surviving housemate, according to a police report released last month.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
Dealt with unnerving subtlety, the final blow is one of Scorsese’s most devastating character executions.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerving
Adjective
-
White, who works as a bartender in Malibu, said the connection was especially disturbing, FOX 11 reported.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The allegations against this individual are disturbing and completely contrary to the values and mission of this department.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Discipline without optimism is paralyzing.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Shortly after Henry’s death, Augusta suffered two paralyzing strokes, intensifying her and Ed’s isolated, co-dependent relationship before her death in 1945.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Beijing has reportedly been discouraging local firms from buying Nvidia chips.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The entire crop of players with serious money left on their deals endured long, discouraging stretches this season where their contracts looked like albatrosses.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With losses come uneasy fan bases, and with uneasy fan bases come edgy owners with itchy fingers, and with edgy owners and itchy fingers come coaches on hot seats.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
As their schemes spiral, father and son are forced into an uneasy alliance to save the family from total implosion.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kids will love sending this Dilophosaurus sauntering across the floor, frightening everything and everyone in his path.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Instances of swatting have been plaguing the nation for years, with fake shooting threats frightening the public and forcing schools, hospitals, grocery stores, office buildings, and airports into temporary lockdowns.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
With him are other notorious killers like Charles Manson and Ed Kemper, a moment creator Ryan Murphy said reflects the far-reaching and unsettling influence Gein’s crimes had on society.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
This time around, while Chambers remains turned away, Teasdale crouches with an unsettling smile and long fingernails, conjuring a skin-crawling suspense.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The game is twisted, disturbing, and terrifying in all the right ways.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
On the same day, 100 cyclists, e-bike and dirt bike riders took over a Boston highway, terrifying local drivers.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Just as demented and tense, but drunk on the confidence of youth and the arrogance to believe that talent and charm is enough.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
-
California’s 'sanctuary' policies, which limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agencies, further complicate enforcement efforts, creating a tense and often publicized standoff between federal officers and local communities.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnerving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerving. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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