as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the unnerving news of yet another murder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 unnerving
David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Experts say the accidents appear unrelated, and that while the timing is unnerving, there is no indication that air travel has become less safe.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
There are several jump scares as the atmosphere becomes increasingly unnerving.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 June 2026
But Hawthorne conjures another unnerving transformation.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Their scenes together are by far the most unnerving in the film.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 June 2026
The footage is chaotic, dreamlike, and profoundly unnerving as the young caregiver grows increasingly intimate with her elusive charge.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 June 2026
Witnesses who observed those executions later shared unnerving, and, at times, horrific, accounts of inmates thrashing, moaning, or otherwise appearing to show signs of suffering after the nitrogen gas began to flow.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Disclosure Day is majestic, unnerving, and more than little wacky, though its pure unhinged quality is probably its secret sauce.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 9 June 2026
Louis Staples, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Still, Hollywood, and its significance to moviemaking, has a singular, unnerving allure on her.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The president immediately began speaking more about buying or seizing Greenland, further unnerving NATO allies.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 May 2026
The most recent of these was just two years ago, when eastern and central swathes of the United States experienced the path of totality, the phenomenon that casts daytime into eerie midnight blackness for unnerving lengths of time.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported, is sparking concerns about tightening energy supplies -- unnerving the world economy.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported, is sparking concerns about tightening energy supplies — unnerving the world economy.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations and its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported, have given rise to increasing concerns of a global energy crisis and are unnerving the world economy.
—Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
There’s something unnerving about the mundane thwack of the rhythms.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Homer at his most explicit can be unnerving.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Experts say the accidents appear unrelated, and that while the timing is unnerving, there is no indication that air travel has become less safe.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
There are several jump scares as the atmosphere becomes increasingly unnerving.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 June 2026
But Hawthorne conjures another unnerving transformation.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Their scenes together are by far the most unnerving in the film.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 June 2026
The footage is chaotic, dreamlike, and profoundly unnerving as the young caregiver grows increasingly intimate with her elusive charge.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 June 2026
Witnesses who observed those executions later shared unnerving, and, at times, horrific, accounts of inmates thrashing, moaning, or otherwise appearing to show signs of suffering after the nitrogen gas began to flow.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Disclosure Day is majestic, unnerving, and more than little wacky, though its pure unhinged quality is probably its secret sauce.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 9 June 2026
Verb
Two decades ago, Pratt’s unnerving talent for getting as much attention as possible secured him a spot on a TV show.
—Louis Staples, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Still, Hollywood, and its significance to moviemaking, has a singular, unnerving allure on her.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The president immediately began speaking more about buying or seizing Greenland, further unnerving NATO allies.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 May 2026
The most recent of these was just two years ago, when eastern and central swathes of the United States experienced the path of totality, the phenomenon that casts daytime into eerie midnight blackness for unnerving lengths of time.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported, is sparking concerns about tightening energy supplies -- unnerving the world economy.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported, is sparking concerns about tightening energy supplies — unnerving the world economy.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations and its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported, have given rise to increasing concerns of a global energy crisis and are unnerving the world economy.
—Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
There’s something unnerving about the mundane thwack of the rhythms.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerving
Adjective
-
That normalization may be the most disturbing aspect of all.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Although the project is unlikely to affect Jackson’s popularity much, some of the revelations uncovered during the investigation are disturbing.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The disease can be paralyzing, or even fatal.—
Ciara McCarthy
June 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
-
Moorehead has followed Clark’s story from 2000, when the running back for Eisenhower High School suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury in a game through his death in 2012.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Critics, particularly in the technology sector, argue the measure could force entrepreneurs and investors to sell assets to meet tax obligations, potentially disrupting businesses and discouraging investment.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
-
This is discouraging some LNG demand and upping that of coal.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
As the nation gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, most Americans feel uneasy about their present, and pessimistic about their future, polls show.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
Sanders takes an uneasy step, into his wonderful, painful childhood.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Even when those withdrawals are planned, seeing balances decrease can feel unsettling.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Could Kadri, given the unsettling aspects of a trade and the finger injury, find a bump in play next year?—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
Facing the endless Cylon onslaught in the void of space is terrifying even in 2D battles, but many of Scattered Hopes' gut punches happen during unexpected narrative events or tough choices that doom entire ship populations.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnerving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerving. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
