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unnerve

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of unnerve

1 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 of unnerve

demoralize, emasculate, paralyze, undo, unman, unstring
Words Related to unnerve

debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, neuter, weaken

prostrate, sap, soften, tire, waste

frighten, intimidate, psych (out), scare, terrify, terrorize

daunt, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit

craze, derange, madden, unbalance, unhinge

discompose, disquiet, disturb, faze, perturb, unsettle, upset, weird out
Near Antonyms of unnerve

fortify, strengthen

embolden, encourage, hearten
Antonyms of unnerve

nerve
2 to lessen the courage or confidence of
  • A figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup.
Synonyms of unnerve

chill, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, frustrate, unman
Words Related to unnerve

browbeat, bully, cow, intimidate

depress, sadden, weigh

afflict, try

damp, dampen, deaden

distress, trouble

bother, irk, vex, worry

debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken

frighten, horrify, scare
Phrases Synonymous with unnerve

throw cold water on
Near Antonyms of unnerve

buoy (up), cheer, gladden

animate, enliven, invigorate

enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen

assure, reassure

boost, energize, excite, galvanize, inspire, lift, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir
Antonyms of unnerve

embolden, encourage, hearten, nerve, steel

Synonym Discussion of unnerve

unnerve, enervate, unman, emasculate mean to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action. unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.
    • unnerved by the near collision
enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.
    • a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure
unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.
    • a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle
emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.
    • an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Learn More about unnerve

  1. See words that rhyme with unnerve Dictionary: Definition of unnerve Spanish Central: Translation of unnerve Nglish: Translation of unnerve for Spanish speakers

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