1
as in unstrung
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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
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
Sora unnerved the entertainment industry when it was launched in 2024, with its rapid creation of photo-quality video from text prompts.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 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
When the brothers came face-to-face, each wearing a vest and medallions and bell-bottoms, the mirror image unnerved them both.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Away from the lectern, the stock-market plunge—as well as concerns about the bond market and Treasury yields—had unnerved some of the president’s top aides, a White House official and a close outside adviser told us.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 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
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
Sora unnerved the entertainment industry when it was launched in 2024, with its rapid creation of photo-quality video from text prompts.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 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
When the brothers came face-to-face, each wearing a vest and medallions and bell-bottoms, the mirror image unnerved them both.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Away from the lectern, the stock-market plunge—as well as concerns about the bond market and Treasury yields—had unnerved some of the president’s top aides, a White House official and a close outside adviser told us.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 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
-
Without constant reinforcement, these muscles will atrophy, and when real tyranny arrives, the flabby citizen will be powerless to resist.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This verdict is a turning point for the live events industry and for every American who has felt powerless in the face of rising ticket costs.—
Letitia James,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
She's been paralyzed ever since.—
Donald Fountain,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
-
Read her 2022 New Yorker feature on how the inability to amend America’s most important document has left the nation paralyzed.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
While renting a car might seem tempting, it is generally discouraged for tourists; Boston’s historical street layout is notoriously confusing, and parking is expensive and difficult to find.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
-
However, if a few detours take you off course, don’t be discouraged.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
One of these supply sources will become exhausted as the conflict goes on, Woods said.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
-
Now, that funding is exhausted.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 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
-
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
-
When to see a doctor Ashamalla stressed that people shouldn’t be frightened by every ache or pain.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Although he will get booed whenever the Cubs return to his hometown to face the Milwaukee Brewers, his body of work there (707-625) helped set a solid foundation for the small-market franchise that has continually frustrated its big-city rival.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
The letter was about a 50-year-old who was frustrated that a 70-year-old friend didn’t pick up the phone when called.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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