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
Putin seeks not only to frighten Europeans but to unnerve Americans, as well.
—
Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
The witchy gothic nature of their song captures the haunted, unnerving quality of Emily Brontë’s novel.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Michael Burry unnerved investors this week with seemingly fresh wagers against artificial intelligence favorites Nvidia and Palantir Technologies .
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Trump’s attack on Kenvue’s flagship product, which appeared to unnerve even some of his science advisors, was — in a world that’s nearly lost its usefulness — unprecedented.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
The witchy gothic nature of their song captures the haunted, unnerving quality of Emily Brontë’s novel.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Michael Burry unnerved investors this week with seemingly fresh wagers against artificial intelligence favorites Nvidia and Palantir Technologies .
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Trump’s attack on Kenvue’s flagship product, which appeared to unnerve even some of his science advisors, was — in a world that’s nearly lost its usefulness — unprecedented.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
Verb
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Cuban officials acknowledged at the end of last year the country’s economy is yet again paralyzed due to fuel shortages and power stations constantly breaking down.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2026
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This week's protests are the biggest in three years, since nationwide demonstrations triggered by the death of a young woman in custody in late 2022 paralyzed Iran for weeks, with rights groups reporting hundreds killed.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite being one of the top defenses all season, the last month has been discouraging.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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This design helps prevent condensation buildup and discourages rodents and pests, while still reducing the risk of damage from falling debris during winter storms.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These political executions are a callous attempt by the authorities to frighten and silence an increasingly restive population no longer willing to accept their corrupt and oppressive rule.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Tens of millions of dollars have been spent to redefine reality and to convince our neighbors that this new age is something that should frighten them.—
TIME Video,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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There were rumors Williams was frustrated with how the Jets were playing, and one can’t blame him, having been part of seven straight losing seasons.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The deadlock has put a pall over Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are frustrated, staffers aren’t getting paid, and the mood is dark, even compared to shutdowns of years past.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Hodges managed to hang on to his baton but then found himself on all fours, surrounded by the mob, terrified that he would soon be torn apart.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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At another level, there does seem to be something absurd and even terrifying about the idea that someone who is not elected can become the leader of a country and then will be recognized as the leader of that country and receive the immunities afforded to heads of state.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Millions of seniors stuck due to accessibility issues For seniors today, finding the right place to live out the rest of their lives is intimidating for a number of reasons.—
Sydney Franklin,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Nov. 2025
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Indeed, one of General George Washington’s greatest achievements was to avoid being cornered and forced to capitulate to these intimidating legions in the war’s early years.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After scaring off the animal, one of the hikers, a physician, attempted to revive Kovatch, but did not find a pulse.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
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Don’t let the tackiness of this primer scare you.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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