1
as in paralyzed
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discouraged
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
1
as in unstrung
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in powerless
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerved
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Opposition Peronists hope to build on their unexpectedly wide victory in Buenos Aires provincial elections last month, which unnerved markets.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
The moves between the world’s two largest economies have rattled markets, unnerved global industries of production shocks, and rekindled fears of a repeat of the tit-for-tat tariff offense in spring, when levies on Chinese and American imports reached levels tantamount to trade embargoes.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Last month, The Star reported about other gas leaks that unnerved area residents in the wake of the deadly home explosion.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
And all went according to plan — except, say some Swifties, for one aspect that’s unnerved and angered them.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
For Birkin, getting older meant a kind of invisibility, a prospect that at once unnerved and elated her.
—Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
His relatives have cut contact, unnerved by the flock of police that tail him.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Leann Williams, a resident of New Orleans neighborhood Tremé, was unnerved by the sight of heavily armed military personnel holding machine guns at the Superdome.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
But over the past year, YouTube’s domination of The Gauge has unnerved executives at some competitors.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Opposition Peronists hope to build on their unexpectedly wide victory in Buenos Aires provincial elections last month, which unnerved markets.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
The moves between the world’s two largest economies have rattled markets, unnerved global industries of production shocks, and rekindled fears of a repeat of the tit-for-tat tariff offense in spring, when levies on Chinese and American imports reached levels tantamount to trade embargoes.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Last month, The Star reported about other gas leaks that unnerved area residents in the wake of the deadly home explosion.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
And all went according to plan — except, say some Swifties, for one aspect that’s unnerved and angered them.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
For Birkin, getting older meant a kind of invisibility, a prospect that at once unnerved and elated her.
—Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
His relatives have cut contact, unnerved by the flock of police that tail him.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Leann Williams, a resident of New Orleans neighborhood Tremé, was unnerved by the sight of heavily armed military personnel holding machine guns at the Superdome.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The new administration’s unorthodox business policies — plus questions about the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate thinking — have unnerved many business owners and corporate executives.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerved
Verb
-
How old was Christopher Reeve when he was paralyzed?—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Hong Kong/Tokyo — Japan’s favorite beer brand is reeling from a cyberattack that paralyzed its production last week.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That same year, millions of plaintiffs filed an antitrust class action lawsuit seeking over $1 billion in damages that alleged Sutter Health overcharged customers and companies for health care bills and discouraged clients from using other lower-cost services.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
-
For two decades, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study discouraged many from pursuing hormone therapy—leaving an entire generation to suffer in silence.—
Emily Cegielski,
Flow Space,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
When the Premier Lacrosse League’s Boston Cannons opened training camp back in May with unstrung lacrosse stick heads, players knew who to ask for an assist.—
Eric Jackson,
Sportico.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Kim sisters have taken over the Flynns’ company, ENCOM, while bratty upstart Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters) runs Dillinger Systems under the watchful, but ultimately powerless, eye of his mother (Gillian Anderson).—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Unfortunately for de Moura, Lemigova had already told not just her wife, but their daughters about all of the above, rendering her attempt at shaming her with that information totally powerless.—
James Factora,
Them.,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One, frightened, pressed her belly into the pavement.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Carley Coleman, operations director at adjacent Via Vite, said her staff and guests dining at the restaurant were frightened when gunshots rang out.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Republicans never shut down the government during the Biden presidency, and Vought grew increasingly frustrated with them for not using more aggressive tactics.—
Andy Kroll,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Trump is growing increasingly frustrated at Putin’s unwillingness to discuss American ceasefire proposals.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Which, it should be pointed out, had to be fairly exhausted at that point.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Outside the courthouse following his victory, Sussman sounded exhausted.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Noah is a debt-addled, nerdy middle-aged who feels totally emasculated by his inability to get a project off the ground.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Blake is not an emasculated wimp; his confidence is complete, his suavity bordering on the toxic.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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