1
as in unstrung
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in powerless
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Dissimilar Words
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
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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
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Recent Examples of unnerved
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
The Rockets were unnerved and eventually undone.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen, unnerved by talk of statewide property tax reform and a looming multiyear budget deficit, is now having second thoughts about committing all that money to a futuristic City Hall.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
McIlroy never seemed unnerved by the pressure of following the supernova that was Woods.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Know More Claude Mythos’ unveiling — and partial release — has unnerved financial authorities, with the US Treasury secretary summoning leaders of US banks to discuss the risk to financial security, and British banking regulators doing likewise.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Viewers are also introduced to Marjorie (Blair Beeken), the activities lead at Oak Canyon Ranch, as well as Rockin’ Grandma’s sole remote worker, web designer Claire (Rachel Kaly), who appears to be terrified by the sun and wholly unnerved by other human beings.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Since debuting in late January, Moltbook has alternately captivated and unnerved industry watchers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Several ensuing controversies at CBS News have unnerved journalists both inside and outside the company and raised questions about her leadership.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 May 2026
The race in San Diego County has unnerved other Democrats, who saw Issa as easier to beat than a fresh GOP candidate — but aren’t always sure what to think about Campar-Najjar.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 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
Larsen and other entrepreneurs, unnerved by the election of democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York and increasing calls across the US for taxes on wealth, fear that the measure could undo efforts to make San Francisco more business-friendly.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The Fed targets a 2% inflation rate, and officials will likely be unnerved by a steady increase.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
But their existence is an open secret, and the Iranian missile’s coming so close to the facility will have unnerved some.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
The results unnerved some, with viewers posting on social media about the uncanny quality of the interviewees.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Domingo plays the King of Pop's late, controversial father in Michael, making a physical transformation for the film that unnerved even its director.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
But civil libertarians are unnerved about casting such a wide dragnet that captures highly personal information from hundreds or perhaps thousands of people who aren’t criminals.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
The Rockets were unnerved and eventually undone.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen, unnerved by talk of statewide property tax reform and a looming multiyear budget deficit, is now having second thoughts about committing all that money to a futuristic City Hall.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
McIlroy never seemed unnerved by the pressure of following the supernova that was Woods.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Know More Claude Mythos’ unveiling — and partial release — has unnerved financial authorities, with the US Treasury secretary summoning leaders of US banks to discuss the risk to financial security, and British banking regulators doing likewise.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Viewers are also introduced to Marjorie (Blair Beeken), the activities lead at Oak Canyon Ranch, as well as Rockin’ Grandma’s sole remote worker, web designer Claire (Rachel Kaly), who appears to be terrified by the sun and wholly unnerved by other human beings.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Since debuting in late January, Moltbook has alternately captivated and unnerved industry watchers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Several ensuing controversies at CBS News have unnerved journalists both inside and outside the company and raised questions about her leadership.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
The baby boomer bank leader took to LinkedIn to admit that his words had unnerved some of his coworkers.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 May 2026
The race in San Diego County has unnerved other Democrats, who saw Issa as easier to beat than a fresh GOP candidate — but aren’t always sure what to think about Campar-Najjar.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 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
Larsen and other entrepreneurs, unnerved by the election of democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York and increasing calls across the US for taxes on wealth, fear that the measure could undo efforts to make San Francisco more business-friendly.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The Fed targets a 2% inflation rate, and officials will likely be unnerved by a steady increase.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
But their existence is an open secret, and the Iranian missile’s coming so close to the facility will have unnerved some.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
The results unnerved some, with viewers posting on social media about the uncanny quality of the interviewees.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Domingo plays the King of Pop's late, controversial father in Michael, making a physical transformation for the film that unnerved even its director.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerved
Adjective
-
Foster gives a taut performance despite the unstrung absurdities of the plot.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
16 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
Feeling powerless driving a CATS bus At times, drivers work on high alert, unsure whether passengers who are threatening them will get physical, the former bus drivers said.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
-
Trump will do his utmost to remind them of their painful and powerless present.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Based on the author’s experiences with anxiety from his teen years to being struck with Guillain-Barre syndrome as an adult, which paralyzed him for six months.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
-
The boy was unconscious for several minutes and temporarily paralyzed, according to the lawsuit.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
At first it was allowed, then discouraged, then more firmly refused.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
-
Its journal was essentially an academic publication, and images were discouraged.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
International cave-diving teams are navigating jagged, zero-visibility passages while weighing whether to guide the exhausted, untrained villagers underwater or wait for receding floodwaters, echoing dilemmas from Thailand’s 2018 cave rescue.—
Jintamas Saksornchai,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Rice looked exhausted a few weeks back but returned to form as the season reached its climax.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
By contrast, Gercke’s emasculated George speaks in the monotonous style of a man worn down by life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Squeaky voices were comic, or emasculated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Lord in your convent frightened me, Jesus with his bloody palms and gaping mouth, eyes rolled back in terror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While many fans have questioned the sincerity of the effort that A’s owner John Fisher and MLB made to keep the A’s in Oakland, MLB officials also grew frustrated by the process.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
As Marcus spent more time mentoring his leading employees, their temperament shifted from frustrated to inspired, stirring more change in the workforce than Marcus ever could have achieved alone.—
Janine Schindler,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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