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 demoralize, emasculate, paralyze, undo, unman, unstring Related Words 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 fortify, strengthen; embolden, encourage, hearten Antonyms nerve

2 to lessen the courage or confidence of a figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup Synonyms chill, daunt, demoralize, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, frustrate, unman, discourageRelated Words browbeat, bully, cow, intimidate; depress, sadden, weigh; afflict, try; damp, dampen, deaden; distress, trouble; bother, irk, vex, worry; debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken; frighten, horrify, scareNear Antonyms 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, stirAntonyms embolden, encourage, hearten, nerve, steel