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
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
Waymo has more recently gone at it alone in Dallas and Orlando instead of partnering with Uber, a shift that has unnerved investors and contributed to a 25% slide in Uber shares since October.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The research unnerved investors by imagining what would happen if AI continues to upend white-collar work.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Bondi had a binder at the ready of stats and crime summaries to hurl at lawmakers during the contentious hearing, but members are unnerved that the DOJ apparently tracked their searches to have at the ready.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Wall Street is coming off a losing week after increasing geopolitical tensions unnerved investors.
—Sean Conlon,fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
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
Several of the senators have been unnerved by recent statements from admistration officials about taking Greenland by force.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
Michael Burry unnerved investors this week with seemingly fresh wagers against artificial intelligence favorites Nvidia and Palantir Technologies .
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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
Waymo has more recently gone at it alone in Dallas and Orlando instead of partnering with Uber, a shift that has unnerved investors and contributed to a 25% slide in Uber shares since October.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The research unnerved investors by imagining what would happen if AI continues to upend white-collar work.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Bondi had a binder at the ready of stats and crime summaries to hurl at lawmakers during the contentious hearing, but members are unnerved that the DOJ apparently tracked their searches to have at the ready.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Wall Street is coming off a losing week after increasing geopolitical tensions unnerved investors.
—Sean Conlon,fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Several of the senators have been unnerved by recent statements from admistration officials about taking Greenland by force.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
Michael Burry unnerved investors this week with seemingly fresh wagers against artificial intelligence favorites Nvidia and Palantir Technologies .
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
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
-
Well, powerless is an important word because—Anne.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But this shift doesn’t leave people powerless.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Its drone and missile attacks on neighboring countries and on container ships hoping to transit the Strait of Hormuz have paralyzed the Persian Gulf region.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Among the suitors vying for her affection were Brad Ledford, who was the driver in the car accident that paralyzed former congressman Madison Cawthorn; Another, Clayton Johnson, was formerly engaged to Lana Del Rey.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There is a reasonable argument to be made that nostalgia, particularly current decisions informed by nostalgia, are by their nature regressive and should be discouraged.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
John says his late mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, would’ve never approved of their relationship and Carolyn reveals her mom, Ann Messina Freeman, discouraged their union during their wedding weekend.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Families are still overwhelmed and caregivers are still exhausted, and far too many conversations are still happening too late.—
Alex Rizo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?—
Agnieszka Szpila,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 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
-
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Facing cameras and a swath of media in her tiny hometown, Long Rife was not frightened by the prospect of moving cross-country.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The San Jose Unified School District board voted Thursday night to shut down five elementary schools and relocate another at the end of the current school year, a decision that has left many parents and students frustrated and scrambling to adjust.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Americans are burned-out, frustrated, and hunting for scapegoats.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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