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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerve
But your New Country friends speak of theirs with an affection and an entitlement that, together, unnerve you.
—
Taiye Selasi,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
Few things unnerve the corporate sector more than uncertainty.
—
Serguei Netessine,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Even counting flaws that come with the system and his decisions that have unnerved some China watchers, however, time is on Xi’s side.
—
Steven Jiang,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
The idea unnerves critics but thrills its architects.
—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Taiye Selasi,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
Few things unnerve the corporate sector more than uncertainty.
—
Serguei Netessine,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Even counting flaws that come with the system and his decisions that have unnerved some China watchers, however, time is on Xi’s side.
—
Steven Jiang,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
The idea unnerves critics but thrills its architects.
—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
Verb
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While receiving treatment at a British base, Derek learned that he was paralyzed from the chest down.
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With endless criteria, knowing exactly what to ask for from a pair of jean shorts is paralyzing.
Verb
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In 2011, the bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission determined that the crisis was triggered in part by Greenspan’s failure to discourage trade in securities backed by subprime mortgage loans amid an unsustainable housing boom and his promotion of financial industry deregulation.
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The color yellow attracts yellow jackets and other pollinating insects, so the all-red design increases your chances of attracting hummingbirds and discourages bees and wasps from staking claim over the sweet nectar.
Verb
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But her outbursts frightened the children too.
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What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.
Verb
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Trump’s rogue moves have frustrated Thune’s party regularly over the past two months.
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David Rubenstein, the son of a Baltimore postal worker, was frustrated in a Washington law firm when he was both inspired by a wildly successful leveraged buyout and unnerved by a book that claimed the odds of successfully starting a company plummets after 37.
Verb
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Supporters — many of them wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors — rushed the gates at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, leaving fans terrified and bloodied as security struggled to contain the rush.
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In La Guaira, entire sections of Catia la Mar remained without electricity on Thursday after many residents spent Wednesday night sleeping in streets, cars or near damaged buildings, terrified of further collapses.
Verb
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Those rights-holders have said the fence is intended to intimidate them or restrict their access, but Harrison’s attorneys have said the fence is meant to ward off those without access rights.
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Given how often Trump has threatened to resume the war without following through, and given his determination to move on, that prospect alone appears unlikely to intimidate Tehran.
Verb
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Don’t be scared by his blue eyes.
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The intent of the letters isn’t to scare people, but to educate them about water stewardship, Talbott said.
Cite this Entry
“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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