unnerved 1 of 2

unnerved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of unnerve

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unnerved
Adjective
The China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, the Navy’s largest base for developing and testing weapons of warfare, suffered billions of dollars in damage, and the fact that the second quake was scarier than the first unnerved many Californians. Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 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. Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 June 2026 At England’s training on Sunday, British reporters admitted to being unnerved. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026 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 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 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 McIlroy never seemed unnerved by the pressure of following the supernova that was Woods. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 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
Verb
Perhaps coincidentally, OpenAI is considering delaying its IPO, The New York Times reported, with executives unnerved by SpaceX’s volatile debut and stock-market choppiness. Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 26 June 2026 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 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
  • There is no coach more powerless than the college basketball coach.
    Mac Engel June 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026
  • Many people feel powerless at work, especially when dealing with managers, write-ups, or fear of losing their jobs.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The artisanal-fishing industry had been all but paralyzed by high gas prices since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; a large number of vessels were anchored close to shore.
    Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
  • The 11-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive spinal tumor at the age of three and is paralyzed from the waist down.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Professors are discouraged from assigning books, supposedly in order to lower students’ financial burden, even as the school has raised various other fees.
    Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • They weren’t discouraged by the full sun above or the extensive bodies in line ahead.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • But Eustaquio moved — likely exhausted — in union with his team towards South Africa’s box.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • Back-to-back overnights left Greenwald exhausted and depressed.
    Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 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
  • But her outbursts frightened the children too.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
  • What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.
    Monica Rodriguez-Aguilera, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Some women are frustrated, worried they are being left behind.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Yet from No Child Left Behind through the push for the Common Core into today’s zeal for science of reading, policy leaders are frustrated that the version of policy that occurs in the classroom does not match their vision.
    Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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