as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the unnerving news of yet another murder
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in paralyzing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discouraging
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerving
Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The Reddit user, who took to the platform under u/schloinkdoink on September 23, described the unnerving discovery in a now-viral post that has been upvoted more than 1,200 times.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, Silent Hill f takes its protagonist to haunting grounds squarely her own, using Japanese folklore, myths, and other legends to paint the unnerving small town.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Though the integration of AI into the job search process might feel unnerving, Javier emphasizes again that robots aren’t looking to replace you.
—Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
But for another type of person—one who feels personally, professionally, or even ideologically invested in the culture and traditions of tattooing—this trend will be unnerving.
—John Semley, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Talking to CaBot was both empowering and unnerving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Scott Derrickson has made millions on the unnerving emptiness between fragments of film grain.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2025
The unnerving way that director De Jarnatt follows how one phone call can escalate into total citywide madness is supremely gripping.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Incompetence has a way of unnerving its witnesses.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
These models often fabricate facts, citations or statistics with unnerving confidence.
—Sagar Gupta, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the weeks before she was murdered, Goncalves recounted a series of unnerving events to Mortensen and a second surviving housemate, according to a police report released last month.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
Dealt with unnerving subtlety, the final blow is one of Scorsese’s most devastating character executions.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The 1960 movie — powered by Bernard Herrmann's chilling score, Anthony Perkins' unnerving portrayal of hotel manager Norman Bates (for the movie, much younger than the character in Bloch's novel) and Hitchcock's uncanny showmanship — revolutionized the horror genre.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The Reddit user, who took to the platform under u/schloinkdoink on September 23, described the unnerving discovery in a now-viral post that has been upvoted more than 1,200 times.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, Silent Hill f takes its protagonist to haunting grounds squarely her own, using Japanese folklore, myths, and other legends to paint the unnerving small town.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Though the integration of AI into the job search process might feel unnerving, Javier emphasizes again that robots aren’t looking to replace you.
—Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
But for another type of person—one who feels personally, professionally, or even ideologically invested in the culture and traditions of tattooing—this trend will be unnerving.
—John Semley, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Talking to CaBot was both empowering and unnerving.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Scott Derrickson has made millions on the unnerving emptiness between fragments of film grain.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2025
The unnerving way that director De Jarnatt follows how one phone call can escalate into total citywide madness is supremely gripping.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Nonetheless, Lloyd's production is handsomely realized, with striking silhouetttes courtesy of Jon Clark and unnerving sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, who add a low whirr of dread to the existential fable.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Incompetence has a way of unnerving its witnesses.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
These models often fabricate facts, citations or statistics with unnerving confidence.
—Sagar Gupta, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the weeks before she was murdered, Goncalves recounted a series of unnerving events to Mortensen and a second surviving housemate, according to a police report released last month.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
Dealt with unnerving subtlety, the final blow is one of Scorsese’s most devastating character executions.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerving
Adjective
-
The private messages offer a disturbing glimpse into how Jones — who is looking to oust incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares this fall — describes his political adversaries in private conversations.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Oct. 2025
-
There were masks and body suits made of female skin, along with human skulls for soup bowls and other disturbing oddities.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pressure Alex, who is endowed by Martin with endearing softness and paralyzing self-doubt, feels to be a brave cop, a strong father, and the righteous hero of this story can’t be separated from his experience as a trans man still honing his relationship to masculinity.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
-
By contrast, maybe such language engenders a sense of defeatism, a belief in the inevitability of collapse which is collectively paralyzing.—
Ed Simon
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In fact, immunization is a dicey-enough financial proposition that the administration’s anti-vaccine policies already are discouraging providers from stocking some immunizations.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Before her groundbreaking discoveries made headlines around the world, Goodall endured long, discouraging stretches in the field.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Still, when her mom asks if Paul and his kids can come on the birthday trip, the woman feels uneasy.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The loss of data arrived during an uneasy period for policymakers.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Instances of swatting have been plaguing the nation for years, with fake shooting threats frightening the public and forcing schools, hospitals, grocery stores, office buildings, and airports into temporary lockdowns.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Toxic masculinity, of both the younger and older varieties, are on unsettling display in Alejandro Castro Arias’ debut feature, which recently received its world premiere at the Oldenburg International Film Festival.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The news has prompted fears that the services will drive down prices, unsettling local tour operators in Kenya where the tourism sector accounts for 10% of the country’s GDP and employs more than a million people, many working in the safari tours space.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The game is twisted, disturbing, and terrifying in all the right ways.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
On the same day, 100 cyclists, e-bike and dirt bike riders took over a Boston highway, terrifying local drivers.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Following the San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, there was a tense moment caught on camera where 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Jaguars head coach Liam Cohen argued with one another.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Pio’s first goal for Inter turned a tense 1-0 lead into a welcome 2-0 win.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnerving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerving. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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