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
James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Kane Parsons' feature debut is an unnerving meditation on memory.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Eisenhower's own weatherman, Irving Krick, played at an unnerving extroverted pitch by Chris Messina, is dead sure that the weather will be fine.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026
Kayaking can be particularly unnerving.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
That’s the unnerving joy of Doyle’s project.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 26 May 2026
Though Export’s radical feminist art grew out of a particular political moment that had pretty much passed by the time Yuskavage began her career, the artists nonetheless share a rabble-rousing sensibility and an obsession with the unnerving visual punch of the female body.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 23 May 2026
After watching a future Hall of Famer look uncomfortable during a morning skate, an unnerving question hung over the city on Friday night.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 May 2026
Their first album in nine years, Paradessence, surveys a global landscape defined by genocide, climate catastrophe, and post-pandemic disorder with clarity, weaving unnerving builds with gorgeous, blooming moments best listened to in one fell swoop.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 22 May 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
Despite its unnerving intimacy, which suggests either erotic pursuit or familiar proximity, the diminutive print calls to mind the photos of Saul Leiter, a figure surprisingly unmentioned in Ghirri’s essays despite his frequent fond allusions to American street photography.
—James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Kane Parsons' feature debut is an unnerving meditation on memory.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Eisenhower's own weatherman, Irving Krick, played at an unnerving extroverted pitch by Chris Messina, is dead sure that the weather will be fine.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026
Kayaking can be particularly unnerving.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
That’s the unnerving joy of Doyle’s project.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 26 May 2026
Though Export’s radical feminist art grew out of a particular political moment that had pretty much passed by the time Yuskavage began her career, the artists nonetheless share a rabble-rousing sensibility and an obsession with the unnerving visual punch of the female body.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 23 May 2026
After watching a future Hall of Famer look uncomfortable during a morning skate, an unnerving question hung over the city on Friday night.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 May 2026
Their first album in nine years, Paradessence, surveys a global landscape defined by genocide, climate catastrophe, and post-pandemic disorder with clarity, weaving unnerving builds with gorgeous, blooming moments best listened to in one fell swoop.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 22 May 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
-
OpenAI had previously flagged her ChatGPT conversations as having a disturbing fascination with extreme violence, and suspended her account, but reportedly the company did not notify law enforcement.—
Anat Lior,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
In an hour-and-a-half interview with the New York Times Popcast that dropped on Thursday, Rodrigo staunchly defended the dress and called the criticism disturbing.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Judge Salvador Vasquez sentenced Pouncey, 37, of Gary, to 176 years Friday for killing Klorya and her husband Kyle Matthews in April 2024, and paralyzing a third man, Malieke Thomas, 55, who later died.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
The plan would block global flights at certain airports, paralyzing travel for some of the biggest cities in the country — especially New York City.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, national health equity experts have cautioned that price-setting approaches, if not carefully designed, can unintentionally reduce access for communities already facing barriers to care by narrowing treatment options or discouraging participation in certain markets.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
Adding layers of bureaucratic chaos will have the insidious effect of discouraging people from following the law.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Until these vexing unknowns are figured out, AI for mental health will be in an uneasy position and subject to strident criticisms and concerns.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Other Western media outlets, meanwhile, are growing more uneasy about what possible interviews with Lai could mean for their presence in China, The Associated Press reported.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 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
-
Once her own pregnancy began, stepping away from work initially felt unfamiliar and slightly unsettling.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
On the opposite side, the Passion façade is stark, angular and unsettling by comparison, telling a very different part of the Christian story in a completely different visual language.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
27 May 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 5 Jun. 2026.
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