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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in unstrung
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in powerless
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerved
Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
His relatives have cut contact, unnerved by the flock of police that tail him.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Leann Williams, a resident of New Orleans neighborhood Tremé, was unnerved by the sight of heavily armed military personnel holding machine guns at the Superdome.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Brooks, the 28-year-old Wales international winger, was key to the visitors’ effort, producing a superb cross to assist Antoine Semenyo’s first goal, and integral to a pressing that unnerved Liverpool all night.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
For Birkin, getting older meant a kind of invisibility, a prospect that at once unnerved and elated her.
—Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
His relatives have cut contact, unnerved by the flock of police that tail him.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Leann Williams, a resident of New Orleans neighborhood Tremé, was unnerved by the sight of heavily armed military personnel holding machine guns at the Superdome.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Brooks, the 28-year-old Wales international winger, was key to the visitors’ effort, producing a superb cross to assist Antoine Semenyo’s first goal, and integral to a pressing that unnerved Liverpool all night.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The new administration’s unorthodox business policies — plus questions about the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate thinking — have unnerved many business owners and corporate executives.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerved
Verb
-
Was Gerry Bertier really paralyzed?—
Jessica Booth,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
-
What people didn’t realize is we were paralyzed with fear.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During previous shutdowns, many national parks closed to the public or offered fewer visitor services, and the public was discouraged from visiting national parks.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Millennials are the most likely to have given up on purchasing a home in the past five years,according to a new survey which found that younger generations feel particularly discouraged by the ongoing affordability crisis.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Its 93-page deregulatory manifesto reads like a wish list for turning passengers into powerless customers.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Social media has theoretically given every fan a voice, but in reality supporters have never been so powerless.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There are liberals in media, but the corporations are now either controlled by the right wing or frightened of it.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Family pets, especially dogs, are frightened by the noise and will hide or try to run away.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Martin Odegaard hobbling off the Emirates pitch for the third time in as many starts would have frustrated Mikel Arteta, but having Martin Zubimendi waiting in the wings is a luxury any manager would dream of.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Youths frustrated at a social media ban, corruption and lack of economic opportunities coordinated mass protests via Discord that helped bring down the government.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Or perhaps its author was just exhausted, which would be entirely understandable.—
Liz Schubauer,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
So, yeah, when all was said and done, Jones was exhausted.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Noah is a debt-addled, nerdy middle-aged who feels totally emasculated by his inability to get a project off the ground.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Blake is not an emasculated wimp; his confidence is complete, his suavity bordering on the toxic.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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