1
as in to paralyze
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discourage
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
as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the unnerving news of yet another murder
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 unnerve
Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Briony then leads Jamie down a line of questioning that unnerves him.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Several workers said that this indefinite period of leave has only unnerved them further as agencies eye deep additional cuts ordered by President Trump.
—Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
How can Ghosts continue, if not to send us into spasms of offense, then still to electrify and unnerve, to shock not our delicate constitutions but our consciences, which, after all, was its intention all along?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Verb
Since President Trump took office in January, Head Start centers have been unnerved by an escalating series of threats, including, most recently, total annihilation.
—Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Briony then leads Jamie down a line of questioning that unnerves him.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Several workers said that this indefinite period of leave has only unnerved them further as agencies eye deep additional cuts ordered by President Trump.
—Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
How can Ghosts continue, if not to send us into spasms of offense, then still to electrify and unnerve, to shock not our delicate constitutions but our consciences, which, after all, was its intention all along?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
Adjective
-
Proponents have long invoked civil rights language to promote vouchers, a disturbing rhetorical choice given vouchers originated as a tool for southern white parents to avoid the Supreme Court's desegregation order in Brown v. Board of Education.—
Kevin Sabet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
-
Actress Isabella Rossellini reflects on the film’s disturbing material and autobiographical elements while resisting reductive interpretations.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
Today, hydrogen bombs have replaced atom bombs in most arsenals, creating a world of uneasy standoffs among nuclear foes.—
William J. Broad,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
But the vote was not unanimous and left Councilman Kevin O’Neill feeling uneasy.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
One of the most unsettling moments at UFC 315 occurred when Bruno Silva left the Octagon after suffering a knockout loss to Marc-Andre Barriault on the early prelims of the fight card.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
His Emilio is the protagonist and, although all the characters are given a shot at Death, Jacobs as Emilio is the most unsettling.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The arrival of a little orphan girl challenges their sense of solidarity in a tense social climate, revealing both their fragility and strength.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
11 May 2025
-
The composition is credited to the film’s actors Lola Kirke, Peter Dreams, Brian Dunphy, Darren Holden and Jack O'Connell, who perform it in a quieter moment in the movie, breaking up the action and some tense storytelling.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
This productivity decline stems from several factors: Workplace morale deteriorates Remaining employees absorb additional responsibilities Teams become anxious about future job security When employees question whether their leaders truly value them, their enthusiasm and dedication suffer.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Nobel laureates, such as MIT’s Daron Acemoglu, are worried about its capacity to worsen income inequalities, and ordinary American workers are anxious about AI’s impact on jobs.—
Bhaskar Chakravorti,
Harvard Business Review,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
A little nervous at first, Harry does well calling the boat in.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
-
The Trump administration became increasingly nervous at the prospect of a major war erupting in one of the most populous places on the planet.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Coraline features terrific voice performances by Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher, and a tone that perfectly rides the line between creepy and spellbinding.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
EW.com,
10 May 2025
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The 1988 original is a creepy comedy classic, and its supernatural sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, was also a hit at the box office, grossing more than $400 million worldwide.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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As alcohol metabolizes, typically over four to five hours, your brain experiences a rebound effect, leading to fragmented, restless sleep in the latter half of the night.—
Dr. Samanta Dall’Agnese,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
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My protagonist drinks to dull the sharp edges of motherhood, to quiet the restless ache of unmet expectations, and to grasp at the fleeting illusion of control in a life that often feels anything but.—
Jessica Guerrieri,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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